USA loans

[Guest]

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[Cactusjack]

Amen Kyle!!!!

Cactusjack   

[mejane]

In a way, we are all our own micro-microlending institutions.  Our association with Kiva allows us to control our overhead/operating expenses in ways that Kiva cannot. 

Because our loan portfolios are public, our loan preferences are available to all who wish to see them.  Therefore, the manner in which our personal micro-microlending institutions support the broader Kiva institution is public.  In fact, we have the opportunity to write our own personal mission statement and make that public.  When I tell people about Kiva, I send them a link to my lender page.  http://www.kiva.org/lender/kyle4714.  With lending teams, we can now further delineate the nature of our support within the larger group.  

This is the brilliance of Kiva.  We get to be our own micro-institution.  That diversity is part of what makes Kiva interesting.  Kiva is a stunning example of people of wildly different backgrounds and worldviews coming together to make a positive difference in the world.  Think about it.  In this community, we have Muslims loaning to Christians and vice versa AND joining together to do so.  Most of the loans made are to people of wildly different worldviews than the person making the loan.  So, if there is a country you don’t want to loan in, don’t.  If you’re frustrated that the larger institution (Kiva) is allowing others to loan to a country you find inappropriate, give Kiva a smaller annual donation if it makes you feel better.  However, I don’t see how it helps your personal micro-microlending institution if you get discouraged over something you are not required to participate in and stop/freeze you loaning.

Personally, I don’t have enough money to loan to everyone I want to and am nowhere near close to finding myself in that position.  I care more about the education loan I missed out on than the loans I am not interested in to begin with.  With the extremely long loan terms and small quantities of the US loans, I can’t imagine them having any negative impact on the other countries.  Frankly, I wish Kiva were in every country.

Kyle

Well said Kyle!  A way for all to participate with harmony! 
And by the way........
 
Jane

[Liliane]

So, if there is a country you don’t want to loan in, don’t.  If you’re frustrated that the larger institution (Kiva) is allowing others to loan to a country you find inappropriate, give Kiva a smaller annual donation if it makes you feel better.  However, I don’t see how it helps your personal micro-microlending institution if you get discouraged over something you are not required to participate in and stop/freeze you loaning...Frankly, I wish Kiva were in every country.

Oh dear Kyle, you are my hero! This is what I have been trying to say for a long time, only you did it politely and in a good analogy. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[closermann]

Kyle,
Welcome ,  Thank you for your insights - Well said
Phil

[BlueNorma]

The difference is that US citizens have access to a vast array of credit options.

I thought Kiva was set up to help the impoverished people of the world. Even the poorest Americans are neither impoverished nor underprivileged by say, Palestinian or Vietnamese standards.

Just because life in the western world got a little less "rich", doesn't mean that organizations like KIVA have to come running.

When I first heard about Kiva I thought it was something very special. I told a lot my friends and family about Kiva! The whole idea was so simple and it worked. A poor guy like me could actually help somebody in greater need.

If my family and friends comes to the site now and sees that we give money away - in sums of thousands of dollars - they would think it's a bank. It's not and never should be! It's called microfinancing for a reason.

What makes it even worse is that the American loans are generally for considerably more than any other country. The average loan size on Kiva is currently $412. Right now there are loans to the US available to fund for $10,000

Check this one out. I'm genuinely concerned about this woman. I mean, what is she going to do without an outsdoor storage shed?!

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=113826&_tpos=1&_tpg=61

I completely agree with this.  I will not be lending to anyone in the US or any other developed country.  After all, if you're going to include US borrowers, there's no way you can shut out those in other developed countries and keep a clear conscience.

[BlueNorma]

Wrong, I spent 7 minutes logged in to Kiva friends.  I've lived in the rural south and now I live in the largest city in the US, where I see true poverty every single day. 

I still don't believe the mission of Kiva should be shifted to provide loans in the developed world, particularly in the US, where there are options.  You may not like them and you may have to work hard to take advantage of them, but there are options.

I never said I would stop loaning on Kiva, but I will make my thoughts known about new policies.

[Dagfinn]

I never said I would stop loaning on Kiva, but I will make my thoughts known about new policies.

Of course you should voice your thoughts here, I think we all welcome that.  That do no imply we all agree and I would like to point out one issue that is as important as you point out yourself - namely new policies.

I am not sure about that, not at all.  I have only been engaged in this for almost two years but to my knowledge one have never ruled out poverty in any specific geography.  Yes there have been phrases like third wolrd countries and developing countries but the fact is that Kiva have been ambigious at best on this and one most oif the time could read into this what one wanted.

I ask for your thought on this angle: if Kiva was present where need for microfinancing de facto are, regardless of what the country was labelled - would not that be democracy and freedom at its best?


Take care, Dagfinn A

[BlueNorma]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 12, 2005 - Kiva, the first non-profit organization to enable individuals to make personal loans to microenterprises in developing countries, launched its Web site today.

Whether or not Kiva ever meant to focus efforts on impoverished people in the developing world, it's initial goal appears to be just that.  Also, having seen/read a lot of press on Kiva and doing my own research before I joined, it appears that at the very least its organizers have let people think the goal is to benefit entrepreneurs in third world countries and have not corrected anyone who said that was Kiva's purpose. 

[Mona]

As this topic has already been discussed very much in detail only a short comment from me: Of the 1103 loans that are currently fundraising on Kiva 1101 are for non-US entrepreneurs. I think this gives one a very good idea where Kiva's focus and priorities are  .

Best wishes,
Mona

[alan]

As this topic has already been discussed very much in detail only a short comment from me: Of the 1103 loans that are currently fundraising on Kiva 1101 are for non-US entrepreneurs. I think this gives one a very good idea where Kiva's focus and priorities are  .

Best wishes,
Mona

And we can choose our own priorities within the available loans.