Here are some ideas to promote the idea of Kiva.
1) Handwrite a little message on an envelope you're going to post. Write it in a different colour to the address. Something like: 'Kiva.org – $25 loans that change lives'. A handwritten note is always more noticeable than a typed up one. Someone, the other end may take notice of it
2) Devise a Kiva screensaver for your work computer. It may be seen by passing work colleagues. There are freeware screensaver maker software out there.
3) Try and persuade your local computer seller to install the screensaver mentioned above on the pcs they're selling in the shops. Not all pcs will have advertising screensavers on them. Some will have just the standard Windows default screensaver. Why not ask the manager to change it to a Kiva screensaver. Has the potential to be seen by many customers and if the manager of the shop has a good heart, will make him/her feel good as well.
4) Make some origami cranes (which are easy to make, just Google search 'origami crane instructions') and write a Kiva orientated message over it. Leave them lying around on buses, trains, doctors, dentist surgeries or maybe make one out of the paper napkin you have in the restaurant and hand it over to the waiter/waitress. A piece of paper folded into something unusual has more chance of it being picked up than a flat piece of paper.
5) Go to your library and slip some Kiva orientated leaflets into books related to Kiva's service eg. Microfinance, charity etc. Not totally morally right, but it's just an idea anyway
6) Petition sites like
www.gopetition.com have a huge number of people using them. Why not petition for an awareness campaign in the Media about Kiva, just like this one for Congenital Heart Disease
http://gopetition.com/petitions/congenital-heart-defects-chd-awareness-in-the-media.html. Put Kiva in the petition title and all of a sudden, you have created an awareness about an awareness campaign for Kiva!
7) How about Freecycle
http://freecycle.org/ – the global recycling group. Depending on where you live, there maybe a huge number of people to whom you could promote Kiva's name in front of. Trouble is, I haven't come up with an angle as to how you could do this. Sorry!
Mike
