{"id":1219,"date":"2006-11-12T17:50:09","date_gmt":"2006-11-12T22:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/catchingfireflies.com\/blog\/?p=1219"},"modified":"2006-11-12T17:50:09","modified_gmt":"2006-11-12T22:50:09","slug":"kiva_loans_that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.catchingfirefliesgifts.com\/blog\/2006\/11\/kiva_loans_that\/","title":{"rendered":"kiva – loans that change lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve & I love being entrepreneurs.  Even though we work way more than 40 hours a week, it’s very exciting and gratifying to watch our business change and grow.<\/p>\n

So when I read about this great organization called Kiva<\/a> in our Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a> I was excited to see how I could help entrepreneurs in other countries grow their business.\"Kiva_1\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

This is how it works: Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This past summer I donated a sum of money to<\/span> Pulperia Blanca<\/a> to help her start selling meat in her grocery store located in Honduras.  Since then she has paid back half the loan and I plan on recycling my original donation to help another business<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Steve<\/span> & I have been so blessed with the success of our company; I feel this is a great way to give back to those who are striving to do the same.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for an alternative holiday gift for a fellow entrepreneur, a<\/span> Kiva gift card<\/a> is a great idea.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n