Thank you to Kiva.org for providing this guest post today!
This is an amazing organization that is doing phenomenal things to change the lives of women around the world. Please read more to learn what they are doing and how you can help.
Author: Talea Miller combines her love of storytelling with her passion for travel. She’s traveled around the world as a reporter helping to bring to light critical stories including the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake and doctor shortages in Tanzania. In addition to be a news junkie, Talea enjoys photography, hiking and attempting to paint. She also knows a lot about horses.
Agustina is young, but she’s tough. She leads a group of 15 women who took out a shared loan through Kiva. Even though she’s one of the youngest members, the group selected her as their leader because of her ability to make tough decisions. Agustina invested her portion of the loan in her family’s food business (they make bread, sausages and snacks) and improving her home. She also works as a hairdresser on Saturdays and hopes to open her own hair salon someday. Her big dream: Getting a degree — “even,” she says, “if I’m 45!” Help more women like Agustina. Invest in her, invest in change at Kiva.org/Her
Get ready to hear a lot about women. March 8 is International Women’s Day (not to mention March being Women’s History Month), and we guarantee that you’ll be seeing—and sharing— inspirational stories and motivational quotes everywhere. But here’s something easy you can actually do.
One Week… One Million Dollars… One Woman at a Time
Kiva.org/Her, which crowd-funds loans to help women build small businesses and lift their families out of poverty, has issued a challenge: Can we raise one million dollars in one week to support women around the world?
If that sounds like a big goal, don’t worry: you don’t have to be Bill Gates to play. The idea behind crowdfunding is that if we each chip in what we can—and it can be as little as 25 bucks, or the cost of a date-night at the movies—it adds up fast. Think Kickstarter that changes lives. (And by the way, Kiva’s been in the crowd-funding game for years longer than Kickstarter).
OK, tell me a story.
So what can I do?
In celebration of International Women’s Day, here’s a date-night idea for this week: Instead of spending that $25 on movie tickets, kick in for Kiva’s One Million in One Week campaign at www.Kiva.org/Her. Then throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave, snuggle under a cozy blanket, and turn on a Netflix—knowing you’ve helped a woman like Roberte build a business, support her kids and achieve her dreams.
Still not sure? Here’s the best part:
At Kiva.org/Her, your $25 is a loan, not a donation like at most nonprofits. Since 98% of Kiva loans get paid back, chances are you’ll still get another shot at that movie date later this year! Although we’re willing to bet that once you’ve experienced what it’s like to change someone’s life, you’ll want to relend that 25 bucks to support a new loan and keep the cycle going.
But for now: Take a rain check on the movie date and join Kiva.org/Her in doing something awesome for someone else this International Women’s Day.
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