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Kiva’s global fight against poverty

By Riley Dinh

A small act of kindness can make a world of difference. Kiva, a growing non-profit organization that was founded in 2005, has created a global community over the Internet that allows individuals to help fight poverty through “micro-financing.” Micro-financing is a financial service that offers loans to low-income individuals, who do not have access to typical banking, at an interest rate of zero percent. Kiva believes in “providing safe, affordable access to capital to those in need helps people create better lives for themselves and their families.” This belief creates a shared value of community through helping others.

The organization collects small loans through its website, Kiva.org, and distributes them to impoverished individuals across 61 different countries. These loans give the individuals a chance to open their own small business, and ultimately create a source of income for themselves. When making a loan, lenders have the choice to choose and connect with whom they want to loan. This process allows lenders to feel a sense of connection with whom they are lending. With over 600,000 lenders, 147 partners and 450 volunteers around the world, the organization has brought in $236 million dollars in loans. With a 98 percent repay rate, Kiva has developed an easy and safe network of exchange.