We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation. Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!

20 May 2012

Genealogists for Families: a Milestone


The Genealogists for Families project is less than eight months old, but today we reached a significant milestone.

Through the non-profit organisation Kiva, the Genealogists for Families team has now loaned a total of $15,000 to low-income borrowers without access to traditional banks. We have helped over 1,000 individuals to expand their small businesses so they can support their families, educate their children or install windows, running water etc in their homes.

(Postscript, 18 May 2013:  It is only one year since I wrote this, but the total amount loaned by our team has now reached a staggering $57,000+. That's because we have over 260 members who keep re-lending the same $25 each time it is repaid.)

The graph above shows the wide variety of small businesses that our loans are currently supporting. It does not include loans that have already been fully repaid. (Repeatedly lending the same $25 does so much more good than a one-time donation to charity!)

Please join the Genealogists for Families team - we are really making a difference! For a limited time, new members can make a free trial loan. It costs you nothing because it is sponsored by an anonymous donor.

You may be also interested in a series of articles in which team members write about their family history research interests and how these are linked to their experiences with Kiva.
Posted by Judy Webster

9 comments:

  1. GeniAus20 May, 2012 15:14

    Proud to be involved in such a super project.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fi20 May, 2012 15:40

    What a wonderful achievement.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bribie Family History Association20 May, 2012 16:23

    Amazing achievement in just 8 months!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gill Chesney-Green20 May, 2012 18:40

    Wow! That's an amazing testament to the group and those who contribute to easing the poverty of the poor folk who require (relatively) so little to make their lives more productive and secure.

    Well done, folks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julie Goucher20 May, 2012 18:48

    Brilliant achievement!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kerryn Taylor20 May, 2012 20:23

    Wow well done! Honoured to be a new part of the team.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Judy Webster21 May, 2012 17:22

    Thank you all for your comments, and for being such active and supportive members of the team. Did you see Pauleen's great article today on her blog Family history across the Seas?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda Gartz23 May, 2012 03:45

    Excellent idea--but then to actually put it into successful action -- now there's the accomplishment. congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy Webster23 May, 2012 09:35

      Thanks Linda. Getting the project up and running took more of my time than I expected, but it has been very satisfying on many levels.

      Delete

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