Last week, I was dragged into a meeting in our sub-freezing Rec Room. On deadline and a bit frazzled, I went in hoping that it would be short and sweet, crossing my fingers that I would not walk away yet another project to complete by 5 pm on Friday!
Much to my surprise, this meeting was not about budgets, clients or anything in the career college industry. It was about giving away PlattForm’s money to help eliminate global poverty. Yes, that’s right, instead of discussing how to increase our company’s profit, we brainstormed ways to give it away and save the world at the same time!
Several members of our interactive team stumbled upon www.kiva.org, an up-and-coming online organization. This non-profit was founded in 2004 with a simple idea: allow individuals to loan money to entrepreneurs in third world countries. This is not your typical donation; in fact, more than 95% of the money you loan will be repaid within months. With just a $25 donation, you can help eliminate global poverty one business at a time.
Like PlattForm, most companies start with an idea, an entrepreneur and a little cash. As that idea and entrepreneur gains momentum, the money soon follows and the business becomes more viable. At Kiva.org, the entrepreneurs it supports live in impoverished communities, and the small loan is not just helping someone make money, it is helping a community rise above hardship.
Companies like PlattForm are now getting on the Kiva bandwagon. In addition to individuals and families providing loans for these budding entrepreneurs, businesses are using Kiva.org to support people thousands of miles way that have similar goals and interests. BeautySchoolsDirectory.Com lends to entrepreneurs that have businesses in the cosmetics industry. Jalia Mohamedy lives in Tanzania and owns a cosmetics company. The $450 she receives from Kiva lenders like BeautySchoolsDirectory.com will help her purchase haircare products and equipment. In 12 months, Jalia will repay her lenders, who then have the opportunity to give that money to another budding business.
Kiva.org the ultimate “Pay It Forward” and not a bad way to spend $25 of your boss’s money!