SfaBW Loans that Change Lives!

This is a Swapping for a Better World swap!

Swapper sweetclementine ran this swap last year and I thought it would be a great one to resurrect.

About Kiva:

All over the world right now, there are working hard and willing to work harder - but they need a little help to get momentum. Kiva allows you to make a microloan of as little as $25 to one of those entrepreneurs, and gives you a chance to make a real difference in their lives and in their communities.

According to their web site, "Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world....When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community."

You transfer your own money into Kiva.org (usually from a Paypal account), choose the profile of the person you'd like to support and Kiva will arrange to have your money sent to the entrepreneur in need. As the person pays back their loan, the money will come back to your account where you can loan it to others or withdraw it back to your Paypal account.

I have been a Kiva lender for about two years and am hooked! I find it a vastly rewarding experience. I hope that you will think so too.

Swap Requirements:

• Join the Kiva Swap-bot Lenders team (if you aren't a member already - http://www.kiva.org/community/viewTeam?team_id=516)
• Choose someone whose story speaks to you, and sponsor her (base sponsorship is $25.00).
• Send a note (email, PM, or snail mail) to your partner letting them know who you chose to lend to and why.
• Use one of your social media accounts (E.g. Live Journal, Facebook, Twitter etc) to let others know about the loan you've made. (If you don't use any social media you're exempt from this one).

Please have a filled out profile and no unexplained 1s. New members are welcome to join; please send me a private message to introduce yourself.

Please don't join unless you are certain that you're going to give. This is just too important to flake on!

I hope you have fun with this swap and feel good about helping someone less fortunate. :-)