Student Contributor -G. Nollmeyer
Kiva is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to empower people all over the world to create opportunities for themselves. It does this through crowdfunding. Kiva connects many people, each with the ability to lend small amounts of money, with those who need help making a better future for themselves and 
their families. Every dollar you lend goes towards funding loans.
When you choose to loan with Kiva, you are enabling someone to help themselves build their business or live a healthier life. This not only creates opportunities for the borrower, but it often has a ripple effect on others as well. Since it is a loan and not a donation, you can relend your money after it has been repaid. To date, Kiva has connected over 3 million borrowers and nearly 2 million lenders from over 80 countries. $1.2 billon have been loaned through Kiva with a 97% repayment rate. As a lender, you are able to decide everything about where the money goes. You can browse according to many categories like, Refugees, Eco-friendly, or Single-Parents. Or, you can browse according to a geographic region. Once a particular story catches your eye, you can learn much more detail about the person’s story, Kiva’s work in the county, and even details about the loan itself.
Since loans are made $25 at a time, it is possible for teachers and students to help multiple people at one time. Have students raise money through bake sales, walk-a-thons, and other strategies. Then, groups of 3-5 students could browse the Kiva website to find the personal story they want to support. Having students decide first on either the category they are interested in or the geographic location they prefer is a good idea since it is easy to be overwhelmed by the hundreds of stories. Kiva is great for older students who are ready to learn about lending and the mathematics of financing. It also makes for great conversations about whether loans or donations are “better.”
