These People Could Use Our Help... Please Read
Lounge By foxymomma521 Updated 10 Jul 2007 , 1:47pm by CranberryClo
I recently learned of a website/organization, it's called www.kiva.org and it organizes micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world. In other words, you can loan as little as $25 to a specific working poor person so that they avoid the high interest rates associated with traditional institutions (traditional banks don't even loan women money in some countries forcing women to borrow privately and only making enough to payback the loan and never get ahead). All loans are repaid (usually in 6-12 months) and you get updates about the progress of the business throughout that time. The site was started by people who worked at google, tivo, paypal and who have regularly visited the families to whom the site donates.
I thought, because so many people here had hard times themselves getting financing for their own business, maybe we could help these people. I hope I don't seem out of line to post this, it just seems like a good cause, that some people here can relate to (sort of).
I know for a fact that things like this are real. I know of a church building their church on this basis. We got the paperwork to know of it was not a scam. People loan the money and get paid back with interest but not a high interest. The church gets their building built and didn't have to get their money from a bank at high interest loans. You could choose how long you would except your money back. A finacial firm handles the specifics. It seems like a good concept but I don't really know what I think yet.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=about this page helps explain the process...
I must say though, after 179 views, I'm disappointed to see the first of only 2 responses was so negative.
When you start a sentence with "Not wanting to rain on this" - you know what you're about to say is negative....I'm not saying that's a bad thing because everyone has their oppinions but you shouldn't deny something when it's in print and you've obviously contradicted yourself several lines up...
Sorry...Just felt like sticking up for foxymomma cause I thought it was kind of negative too!! 
I want to respond so you don't think you've had all these views and no one cares. It's wonderful that you're interested in this and that you're passing the word on. Everyone's got some cause or issue that's important to them and if this is your thing then what a worthwhile cause it is. I studied microloans briefly during my undergrad and they truly do have life-changing potential. Good on you for getting this out there to more eyes and minds.
Christy
I'm not saying this is a bad thing but I will say I think there are better things that are more important right now then helping someone start a business that may go under.... something like feeding a child that won't get dinner tonight or tomorrow night. Country Crock has come up with a way to feed all these homeless children and adults with just a simple story... All you do is submit a story of sharing (sharing a meal) and every story that is shared is a meal on someones table/in their bellies....
editted to add the link to Stories of Sharing
http://www.spreadthesharing.com/StoriesofSharing/
Cakepro.. I seen that!! Hee Hee..
Anything to help others is a good thing.. No matter what.. It's up to you to do what you feel is right.. BUT this is in the wrong category.. This needs to be placed in the Lounge Area...The Lounge
This is a place for off-topic discussions, use this area to chat about things un-related to cake-decorating & baking.
Happy Baking!
well, i would just like to chime in on this discussion.
1. I think that this is a GREAT idea.. i don't think, actually, that this is less important than feeding hungry children. Actually, i think it is one in the same. It goes to the idea that if you give someone a fish they eat for a day, teach them to fish they eat forever.
2. I wish i wasn't a poor grad student myself, so that i could get in on this.
3. I wouldn't be insulted that not everyone gets excited.. its just a fact of life. i know because i feel VERY stongly that this country should be ending the genocide in Darfur... i can't even get people to go to a website and fill out a form for this purpose! People are passionate about different things.
4. Lets all not be so apt to jump on each others tails for things. If this is something that you aren't interested in, fine. If so, great.
If you don't feel compelled to help this cause, there's no reason to say there are "better" things to contribute to. Helping someone start their own business is a VERY good cause in my book. As a single mom trying to start MY own business - I know! And I don't even live in a 3rd world country.
If I weren't struggling right now with my own start-up costs (I'm looking into opening up a storefront), I would CERTAINLY contribute. And I will bookmark that website so that I can help as soon as I am able to. Thank you for posting this.
Just remember ladies - just because it's not YOUR cause, doesn't mean it's not a GOOD cause.
*climbs off soapbox*
I'm not saying this is a bad thing but I will say I think there are better things that are more important right now then helping someone start a business that may go under.... something like feeding a child that won't get dinner tonight or tomorrow night. Country Crock has come up with a way to feed all these homeless children and adults with just a simple story... All you do is submit a story of sharing (sharing a meal) and every story that is shared is a meal on someones table/in their bellies....
editted to add the link to Stories of Sharing
http://www.spreadthesharing.com/StoriesofSharing/
I'll definately pass both of these great sites on. Thanks for sharing!
Holy Cow!! That is awesome! Writing is something I can do. I don't have the money in the bank right now to donate. I wish there was a database of all of these "free" donation sites. It makes me feel like I can give back too.
I wasn't really knocking it totally out of the water guys... I just feel a little more strongly about the homeless and neglected. I for one know how hard it is to be homeless, being someone that has had to sleep in a vehicle and then a tent when the vehicle got repo'd.... then not having anywhere but my friends floor... I was luck enough to have friends to help yes I know... but still homeless none the less before that going without food and water going without bathroom facilities needing to do whatever I could just to get by (before I had my daughter)
Also I feel kinda pushed away from a cause like that because that is in fact one of the place me and my husband BOTH looked into that company for loans for small business and we were both turned away... they may sound all good and nicey nice but they pick and choose who they help you don't. You may get to pick who you want your money donated to but I don't believe it really goes there I think it goes where they want it to. And yes I understand some of the business asking for loans are different from starting a cake biz but my husband didn't apply for a cake decorating business loan he applied for a start up loan for a construction company he wanted to open. All he needed was $7,000.00 to purchase the tools that's it... get the tools and then he could start taking jobs and could pay for materials with the money he got from the jobs...
Anyway I have my own personal reason why I wouldn't support a cause like that and it's not because I don't like the poster or anything like that and it's not because I think donating money to help someone start a business is a bad thing I actually think it's a great thing I just don't care much for that company.
If you don't feel compelled to help this cause, there's no reason to say there are "better" things to contribute to. Helping someone start their own business is a VERY good cause in my book. As a single mom trying to start MY own business - I know! And I don't even live in a 3rd world country.
If I weren't struggling right now with my own start-up costs (I'm looking into opening up a storefront), I would CERTAINLY contribute. And I will bookmark that website so that I can help as soon as I am able to. Thank you for posting this.
Just remember ladies - just because it's not YOUR cause, doesn't mean it's not a GOOD cause.
*climbs off soapbox*
Thank you, and I apologize that I listed this in the wrong area. I didn't realize it at the time. I also didn't realize there would be such a negative backlash against this topic. I have to say that this is helping people get loans in 3rd world countries, not here. YOU pick who you want to loan your money to. So, in essence you are helping avoid what some poeple go through when their loan is rejected... If you yourself here have had trouble with credit in the past, all the more reason to help avoid that happening to someone else. Over $7 million has been loaned so far, if this was not legitimate, I don't think this organization would still exist. Also, I agree, I am sure that not all people who want a loan are able to apply for one through that site. Like the first post said, not all people pay their money back, and I'm sure they have to be careful who they loan money to. That's not to say that any of the people looking for a loan are not in need of a loan, if they weren't then they wouldn't be there. Thank you to all who have responded. My only intention was JUST to get people to look at the site, the more that see it the further the word spreads. I sincerely didn't mean to offend anyone by putting it up here, I just thought it might help someone in need. IMHO
Thank you again.
You did a good thing. No worries, no stress.
Looking at your sig., you've got more exciting things to think/worry/stress about, so take a deep breath!
Christy
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