new purposes for loans...?

[Guest]

.

[dreamdog]

Today I logged on to KIVA and noticed that a group of folks from Mexico are looking for home construction loans.  It seems like an expansion of the Kiva mission to extend personal credit for non-business related purposes.

Meanwhile, what I would be very interested in contributing to is infrastructure projects such as water systems, sewer systems, a powerline or transportation improvement that could lift up an entire community, it economic opportunity, quality of life, overall public health?  Does anyone know of a site similar to Kiva that allows us to lend/contribute money to fund specific public infrastructure projects?  (I'm an urban planner, a.k.a. nerd). 

Pat

[Robert]

Sometimes, the village people take the initiative to invest in such an infrastructure and post their loan on Kiva. For example, this one is in my understanding public infrastructure, but as no public body is willing or able to solve the problem, the people (or rather the WOMEN) do it.

We have also some pharmacists and doctors borrowing here. 

[Jill]

Dear Pat/DreamDog,
     I'm going to mention a few other organizations,
trying to respond to your question,
but I do it in the hope/belief that you can and will give
some of your heart and funds
to some of the Entrepreneurs that Kiva is trying to help,
in addition to seeking out other avenues
for getting to where your ideals and convictions have you wanting to go.

      The following are organizations whose missions and projects have touched me.
I know a lot more about and have, as a result of my learning about them,
a substantially greater belief in and admiration for the first two of the four,
but it's possible that all four might be worth your consideration.

RYAN'S WELL FOUNDATION
http://www.ryanswell.ca/story/mission_goals.html
PARTNERS IN HEALTH
http://www.pih.org/who/vision.html
http://www.pih.org/what/PIHmodel.html
GLOBAL GIVING
http://www.globalgiving.com/index.html
SEVA.ORG
http://www.seva.org/programs.php

       Please do understand, though, that Kiva has offered and I'm hoping and believing, will again, in the future, offer
"Entrepreneurs" working together and engaged in trying to provide water systems for their villages.
I've gotten involved with at least one or two of them as well as with a number of medical-related
and other, specifically AIDS-Education-related loans along with Education-oriented loans, too.
    I'll tell you, though, those loans, when they do appear, get snapped up very fast, as there are many others
besides you and me, who want and hope the impact of their loans to stretch as far, and to be as generally helpful
as possible.

[KivanSteven]

People from here or any other location willing to set up water purification systems or electric lines should work with kiva to raise the money to accomplish these objectives.  Linking the funding up with the people who have the ability, desire, and know how to make these things happen would be a great opportunity that Kiva could facilitate.