A Kiva loan begins with the borrower. A borrower applies for a loan on Kiva.org through their local Lending Partner, who uploads the details of the loan through the system. A worldwide network of volunteers ensures that these details are properly edited and translated before it goes live. Then the loan is ready for our millions of lenders to browse and fund. Once an international loan is funded, the Lending Partner then deploys the money and collects repayments.
There are all kinds of Kiva loans—each as unique as the individual borrower.
“Kiva” means “unity” in Swahili. In 2005, Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley chose to name their microfinance organization Kiva, for the name’s inclusive connotations. It also represents the connection that is facilitated between people all over the world
Due to the generosity of donor John Brumby, the St Austell & District Soroptimists have been able to support 64 loans since 2016. A donation of £500 was made in memory of Joy Brumby a former soroptimist member and past president. Here are some of our latest projects.
Lolryn
Philippines / Personal Expenses
Lorlyn is a hardworking microentrepreneur. She is single and has a native bag weaving business in the Philippines.
Lorlyn requested a loan to invest in a sanitary toilet.
Lorlyn knows that using the sanitary toilet will ultimately reduce health and hazard risks to her family.
A loan helped to build a sanitary toilet for her family.
This loan is special because:
It helps protect families who are most vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
This loan helps to improve the living and hygiene standards of families in the Philippines by ensuring households have a safe water supply and improved sanitation facilities. By supporting this loan, we have helped the borrower reduce rates of waterborne diseases and increased her economic outcomes.
Maria Felix
Nicaragua / Grocery Store
Nine years ago María decided to start her own business with a little capital that she had saved. Today, she has a small grocery store which enables her to generate the income to support her daughter as a single mother.
María turned to Kiva loans to buy beef, chicken, soft drinks, sweets, rice, beans, oil, sugar, coffee and cleaning products to stock her store. Her goal is to continue to build up her business.
A loan helped to buy beef, chicken, soft drinks, sweets, rice, beans, oil, sugar, coffee and cleaning products to stock her store.
This loan is special because:
This loan provides capital to a first-time business owner. It has equipped a woman entrepreneur with a basic financial education and the funds to start a business. In this case, we’ve helped a woman gain financial independence and provide for her household.
Ana Del Carmen
El Salvador / Food Production/Sales
Ana went to school through the sixth grade. She is a single mother; her children are in school. A nephew also lives with her.
Ana makes tortillas to sell. She has done this for twelve years; she learned how to do it from her aunt. She has this business in her house, working from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. From time to time, her daughter helps her deliver orders to customers.
This loan is to buy a new kitchen and gas to make and sell tortillas.
Ana dreams of her business being bigger and of enjoying a better quality of life.
This loan is special because:
It supports a single mother and other vulnerable women.
Azima
Togo / Fruits & Vegetables.
Azima is a married woman with two dependent children. She sells fried yams, buying the ingredients at the market. Azima applied for a loan to buy bowls of yams, jugs of oil and cartons of pasta. She would like to sell more to meet customer demand.
A loan helped to buy four bowls of yams, two jugs of oil and four cartons of pasta.
This loan is special because:
It helped a vulnerable population in Togo access credit and grow their businesses.
We are changing lives!
Amount lent $4,200.00
Amount repaid $3,610.10
Amount lost $120.87