micro-credit

I can't remember if I posted about micro-credit before on my blog. I may have mentioned it when I read Mohammed Yunnus' book "Banker To the Poor." [If you haven't read it, you need to stop reading this right now and go buy it]

As I tend to become borderline obsessive about topics, micro-credit is my newest passion. Over the past few months, my interest slowly grew as I learned more about poverty around the world but recently, my interest transformed to action. I just finished reading another great book that broke down the reasons why micro-credit is the best poverty-busting method. The book is called "A Billion Bootstraps" and it positions micro-credit as a philanthropic investment rather than charity. 

As a brief summary, here are the basics of micro credit:

1) A small loan is given to an entrepreneur in a developing country

2) This loan will help the person expand their business and provide increased monthly income

3) The loans are approx. equivalent to the average GDP in the developing nations

4) The repayment rate is nearly 100%. 80% of loans are given to women

5) By investing in these businesses, the cycle of poverty is broken and a sense of pride is developed as the loans are paid back

6) The repaid loan is then lent to other entrepreneurs

 

Micro-credit gives dignity to those struggling in the cycle of poverty. Did you know nearly 4 billion people live on less than $4 per day? The need is great. So after reading this book, I knew I had to act. Once we know something can be done to help our neighbour, the responsibility is on our shoulders to do it. We cannot claim ignorance. 

I decided to go to kiva.org where entrepreneurs post their loan requests and you can choose a project from all over the world. I have provided a portion of the loans to the following entrepreneurs:

1) Evelyn Amoah

2) I Hope to God Group

3) Victoria Sogaolu

Once my investment is paid back, I will re-invest it in other business projects. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. I can think of no other philanthropic activity where the "donation" continues to change lives long after the initial contribution. I truly believe micro-credit will revolutionize the world and create opportunity for all, not just a privileged few.

"Massive poverty & obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times...that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils."

- Nelson Mandela

To learn more about micro-credit, visit kiva's site. Now you know.

Ted

No, this post isn't about the new man in my life. Last week, through a random link somewhere in the blogosphere, I stumbled across the site ted.com. It is my type of site...the sharing of ideas - good ideas - gets my blood moving. I have only just begun exploring the talks on the site. Basically, experts in various fields share their ideas on how to solve world issues or just inspire people. Two of the videos which have stood out as my favourites so far are:

- Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom

- Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity

After I post this entry, I plan to watch Seth Godin's talk on Tribes - I know my life is tremendously exciting.

In Elizabeth Gilbert's video, she talks about our creativity not coming from within us but from an external source. She says something along these lines:

"Maybe if you never happen to believe that the most extraordinary aspects of your being came from you but rather believe that they are on loan to you maybe from an unimaginable source for a portion of your life to be passed along when you are finished to someone else."

This thought really can free up our creativity to just create because it is not just our self that is creating but an external force...watch the video...my thoughts about this will make more sense.

Sometimes I feel there is so much in the world that I want to learn, to know, to think about, to debate, to create, and to discuss. I realize the catch-22 of our generation is our access to ideas and information is exponentially greater than past generations but we will never be able to learn it all. I suppose our option are to either avoid new ideas and stay with what we already know or rather to embrace whatever we can catch from the fire hydrant of wonderous ideas coming at us. I am not sure if you have seen the Shift Happens (aka Did You Know?) video making the rounds. Last week, I was teaching Grade 9 students about the Economics of Success (basically a stay in school/future planning day) and I shared this video with them. It wasn't meant to scare them but to make them think differently. Follow the link because Shift Happens.

A mish mash of goodness

This post will just be a hodge-podge of items to share so bear with me.

The first update concerns the event which consumed my life for the past month. The Keep a Roof Over Their Heads event raised funds for the long-term, transitional supported housing at the YWCA. The housing provides safe, secure shelter for women and children in crisis. Many women are in crisis due to domestic abuse situations. I heard many stories this week about women who found the courage to leave. This is a cause that grabs my heart at its core. With my job, I work with many worthy causes but this one makes me weep for these women.

Birds-eye view of the event 

My second update concerns a wedding gift I bought myself. No, I am not getting married anytime soon but this was on sale and I am not going to wait until some future wedding before I own one. Meet my new Kitchen Aid Mixer:

I can't believe May is here already. Spring is here finally and there is so much happening during the next few weeks. The concept of anticipation is playing in my mind. I came to the conclusion that anticipating something is half the fun. Think about Christmas...the anticipation of the holiday is almost better than the day itself. In light of that, here is what I am anticipating:

 - Mexican cooking class in 3 weeks

 - 1/2 marathon in 4 weeks

 - Trip to Istanbul, Turkey and England in 4 1/2 weeks