KIVA

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notself
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KIVA

Post by notself »

For those of you interested in the terrific work impact that microlending can have in peoples lives, I suggest you look into KIVA an American based lending organization that lends world wide. One can start lending with as little as $25 and re-lend when the original loan is paid back. As a lender one can join a community of other lenders. There is even a Theravada group.

Here is a link.
http://www.kiva.org/community?queryStri ... arch+Teams" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, yet he is indeed the noblest victor who conquers himself. ---Dhp 103
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andre9999
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Re: KIVA

Post by andre9999 »

I've been a member if Kiva for years now. Gift certificates make for interesting gifts too.
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: KIVA

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

I've been a member for awhile. Part of Team Theravada--sounds like a joke but there really is a Theravada Buddhist lending team. It's not really dana IMO but I think it's an excellent way to help people and you get to choose the type of project you'd like to sponsor. Sukhitaa hontu!
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

The Stoic Buddhist: https://www.quora.com/q/dwxmcndlgmobmeu ... pOR2p0uAdH
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Prasadachitta
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Re: KIVA

Post by Prasadachitta »

I meditate in the morning with the Founder of Kiva. He is a very kind and humble person. I was pleased to find out what wonderful work he does. Its inspiring.


Gabe
"Beautifully taught is the Lord's Dhamma, immediately apparent, timeless, of the nature of a personal invitation, progressive, to be attained by the wise, each for himself." Anguttara Nikaya V.332
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octathlon
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Re: KIVA

Post by octathlon »

Any advice from those who have been doing this? It seems a little complicated to figure out if some loans would be better than others (the various lending partners and interest rates they charge to the borrowers for example).

I noticed the Theravada group had made one loan for a liquor store which seemed odd. :)
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: KIVA

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

octathlon:

I always make sure that I'm not supporting anything which would break the five precepts when donating. That's about my only rule. BTW, the group doesn't donate together, only individuals do so although it is weird that someone donated to a liquor store that shouldn't reflect upon the group as a whole. Sukhi hotu.

Gabriel:

That's awesome. Anumodana to you both. Take care. Mettaya.
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

The Stoic Buddhist: https://www.quora.com/q/dwxmcndlgmobmeu ... pOR2p0uAdH
My Practice Blog:
http://khalilbodhi.wordpress.com
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octathlon
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Re: KIVA

Post by octathlon »

Khalil Bodhi,
Thanks for pointing that out about how individuals pick their own loans to make. Still reading and figuring it out.
notself
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Re: KIVA

Post by notself »

I saw a TV program about micro loans and it seems that women pay the loans back more reliably than men. Women take the profits from their businesses and spend the money educating their children more than men do. They take any left over money to re-invest in their business more than men do. I find this strange but this is now one of my criteria. I just lent some money in Pakistan. Evidently women apply for the loan, but they apply on behalf of their husbands. I find this strange as well but I will still lend in Pakistan. I also lent to a woman in New Orleans, USA who is trying to get her business back on its feet and can't get a bank loan.

As the loans repay, one gets emails from KIVA giving one an accounting. As the repaid money accumulates, it is available to re-lend. Once one gets the hang of things, it is a simple process.
Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, yet he is indeed the noblest victor who conquers himself. ---Dhp 103
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: KIVA Buddhists

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

One does not have to join a KIVA team, but it is fun to see how your team measures up in the generosity standings. KIVA gives rankings & charts etc. Kiva Buddhists is one of the older teams which has loaned around $100,000 so far.

Who to give loans to is also fun. I have yet to have anyone or any group (groups are a better risk) default on a loan. One loan lost money because of currency exchange losses.

Join KIVA and foster self-reliance!
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: KIVA

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Join in and be generous! http://www.kiva.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Kim OHara
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Re: KIVA

Post by Kim OHara »

Just a gentle reminder: Kiva does good work in poorer communities and donations are recycled as loans to successive groups (which you can pick yourself) so (e.g.) $50 can help dozens of people in the long term.
There is a Theravada Buddhist team - http://www.kiva.org/team/theravada_buddhists - which you can join if you like. I just checked its stats and was a bit disappointed to find there are only 21 members. Surely we can do better than that?

:namaste:
Kim
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: KIVA

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

Hi Kim,

Thanks for the reminder. I'll be making a loan today and will post the details here shortly. Anumodana!
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

The Stoic Buddhist: https://www.quora.com/q/dwxmcndlgmobmeu ... pOR2p0uAdH
My Practice Blog:
http://khalilbodhi.wordpress.com
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: KIVA

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

And this is my uposatha day donation: http://kiva.org/invitedby/michael81721951
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

The Stoic Buddhist: https://www.quora.com/q/dwxmcndlgmobmeu ... pOR2p0uAdH
My Practice Blog:
http://khalilbodhi.wordpress.com
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Kim OHara
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Re: KIVA

Post by Kim OHara »

:twothumbsup:

:namaste:
Kim
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Ben
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Re: KIVA

Post by Ben »

Anumodana for your virtuous act of generosity, KB!
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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