Let's do some good!

In class we discussed Kiva, a non-profit organization that helps provide microloans to individuals who live in developing countries, like the ones we have been studying in class.  Obviously, I think this is a good idea, for a number of reasons.

• The John Carroll mission statement challenges us to be "men and women of moral integrity," asking us to "serve responsibly in shaping a more just and compassionate global society."
• The purpose of Kiva is to provide individuals the opportunity to help themselves.  You would not be giving away $25, but lending $25 to entrepreneurs who will use it to jumpstart their small business.
• Kiva has been given the highest rating (four stars) by Charity Navigator, an independent corporation that evaluates charities in the United States.
• The repayment rate for Kiva loans is an astonishing 99.03%. 

One of my goals in teaching you guys about Human Geography is to provide real-world applications of what we learn.  It's one thing to learn how important infrastructure is to developing countries; it really brings it home to see how a small loan can help Edson the maize farmer in Zambia, or Hadija the mobile phone reseller in Tanzania.  I'm not the only one who thinks microloans are a great idea - the economist who started it all, Muhammad Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006!

The video below gives an overview of how Kiva works.



Because you, my students, are not yet adults, you will need your parents' help to actually make a loan, and they will need a credit card or a PayPal account.  A description of how the whole process works can be found here.

I invite your parents to contact me at rschick@johncarroll.org if they have any questions at all.

It's easy to see that I am a big fan of microloans in general, and of Kiva in particular.  But please don't feel that I am pressuring you into supporting this cause.  There is no penalty if you choose not to participate, and I am offering no academic extra credit if you do participate. (Although I am promising a pizza party to the class with the highest participation after one month!)  If there is anything about this program you or your parents are not comfortable with, I understand.  But if you like the idea, jump in!