Micro Loans

If you're not sick of hearing about this, please read on. 

Why I like Kiva.

I like Kiva because I believe in empowerment and training, not blind charity that feels good to the giver but does little to help pull individuals and communities out of poverty.  God calls us to care for the poor, absolutely.  But I have a problem with uneducated giving.  Sometimes we get all caught up in what appears to be beneficial on the surface but may actually have long-term negative consequences.  Take the issue of say, shoes.  Westerners feel so stirred, some by genuine compassion, some by guilt, to give tangible things like shoes, for free, to people who don't have them.  Shouldn't everyone have a pair of shoes?  Isn't it wrong that they don't?!  Shouldn't I make it my mission to make sure everyone on the planet has a pair of shoes?  But consider this.   1. Shoes are far from the top of the needs list for many places.  Like where we used to live.  Would they have loved free shoes?  Absolutely.  Do they need shoes?  Nope.  Most of the times shoes are a hindrance to their lifestyle of walking through muddy bush, wading in rivers, gardening, and walking across slippery log bridges.  Their feet are so much better at gripping and so tough that they really are the best mode of transport.  What if their feet become soft from wearing shoes but no more free shoes come next year?  They cannot afford to buy more shoes that they didn't previously know they needed but now feel they do so they then depend on, waiting anxiously, expectantly or sometimes angrily for the next donation.  2.  Giving free stuff to an economy that has the manpower and knowledge to make its own stuff kills the economy and creates dependence, not independence.  I'm not talking about places ravaged by some terrible disaster who need temporary emergency assistance as they rebuild.  I'm talking about places that are chronically poor.  Instead of just giving the product, why not donate the materials and train people to make shoes?  Why not give a micro loan and small business assistance to those with the skills to make shoes so that they can start to provide for their families in a sustainable way.  This not only helps the individual but benefits the economy of the entire community/nation.  Also, and this is an important point, it empowers  the recipients, giving them goals, motivation, hope, and confidence.  Kiva helps people who have the desire and skills to do something, to provide for their families far beyond my $25.00.  And that's why I love it.