Every month I get the privilege of helping someone around the world, whom I have never met, work their way out of poverty and this month I get to help Habil Orujov from Azerbaijan and a group of women from Paraguay. This month I get to help out two people because a previous loan from several months ago was repaid! A total of 5 of the loans I have given out have been repaid now and each and every time I get so excited to know that they have succeeded and that they are one step closer to better providing for their families.

I stumbled across Kiva in late 2006 and eventually made my first loan. Nineteen loans later and I can’t get enough of it! I started out sponsoring a child through Compassion International and after my child left the program I began looking around for a different way to make a difference. My favorite part about Kiva as opposed to Compassion is that the $25 a month that I give to it can keep on working. Once your loan is repaid, you can turn right back around and re-loan that $25, meaning instead of just helping out one person for one month (Compassion) you can help multiple families at multiple times. I have had 5 loans re-paid, and those $25 loans have already been turned around to help out 5 more families. Talk about stretching a dollar!

Check out Kiva, and if you’re looking for something to get involved in look carefully at Kiva. It’s a great organization!