ADAM GREENBERG
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Kiva.org - Social Change through personal online Microfinance

4/20/2008

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Maybe you've heard of it?
Kiva.org is a social change non-profit that empowers individuals with internet access and a PayPal account with the capacity to micro-finance directly to borrowers in the developing world through no-interest loans. 

It's the same basic principles of micro-finance that won Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
After easily raising over $450 online for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the elementary school where I have been a teacher's aid through AmeriCorps NCCC, I was on a high. Not long after, I spoke with my sister's boyfriend (who also happens to be an Adam) and he reminded me about a site that we had talked about before, but that I had since forgotten - Kiva.org.

He told me he had provided part of 12 different loans to people in developing nations, most in need of supplies for their small business. Adam now only has 2 outstanding loans, currently being paid back as scheduled (monthly); his other 10 have been paid back in full (Kiva has a 99.9% repayment rate apparently) over the designated term (could be 3, 6 months, a year, etc.).

So I easily signed up as a lender at the end of March and quickly began 3 no-interest $25 loans to individuals in Peru and Paraguay in need of funds to buy supplies for their grocery store or retail business. Kiva background checks all their borrowers and appears to take the necessary precautions so that most lenders would probably feel comfortable participating (at least I was). And the process was easy; PayPal handles all the transactions at no cost to Kiva.

My shortest loan will be fully repayed in 3 months, so I'll revise this entry if there are any issues, but I did just recently receive a journal update from a borrower who had received her loan and is very grateful.

Like myself, you may not be a huge fan of many of the principles of our current socio-economic system, but as an advocate for the ability of every person to affect positive change within his or her means, and within the means of this current economic system called capitalism, I think Kiva.org is a great way for everyday people to affect the sort of sustainable and grassroots change that we often talk about.

Have a look for yourself.




AdamGreenberg.com is the official website of some guy by the same name. Thanks for being here.

Adam's grateful his 20s were a debt-free decade traveling with intention through work with meaning.
Some of that work includes TOMS, The White House, teaching abroad, experimenting with art and business in the Gift Economy, and two proud terms of national service with AmeriCorps.
We have got to reform student loan debt for all.
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    AdamGreenberg.com
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    AdamGreenberg.com is the official website of some guy by the same name. Thanks for being here. 

    ​Adam's grateful his 20s were a debt-free decade traveling with intention through work with meaning. Some of that work includes TOMS, The Obama White House, teaching abroad, art and business in the Gift Economy, two proud terms of national service with AmeriCorps, and two terms with the US Peace Corps in rural Zambia, working with small-scale fish farmers.

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  • Hi, I'm Adam
    • ID >
      • Two Poems
      • Computer Drawn Art
      • SCUBA diving
      • Korean Ice Cream Review
      • Last Night's Dream
    • EGO >
      • A Bio-Story
      • Resume
      • What Others Say
      • "Ew, Baby Pictures"
      • Fun with facial hair
    • Issues >
      • Debt-Free Education >
        • Learn for Free >
          • Khan Academy
          • Coursera
          • MIT Open Courseware
          • Skillshare
          • Udemy
          • Highbrow
        • Earn Scholarships
      • National Service
      • Election Reform
      • Retire the Penny
      • Universal Basic Income
      • Net Neutrality
      • DVORAK vs QWERTY
      • Senior Citizen Driving Exam
      • Art + Creativity
    • Speaking
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    • Contact Adam
  • Work with Meaning
    • Alternative Business Models >
      • TOMS | One for One
      • iPhone Screen Repair | Name Your Own Price
      • "Adam, I Need A Website" | The Gift Economy
    • National Service >
      • Peace Corps Volunteer 2022-23
      • Peace Corps Volunteer 2018-20 >
        • HIV+ Positive Voices: Worldwide
      • AmeriCorps NCCC Team Leader 2011-12
      • AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Member 2007-08
    • Leadership in Community >
      • Successfully campaigned for Emergency Window Hammers on Buses in South Korea
      • Started "AmeriCorps Alums" Kiva.org group lending $30,000+
      • I.M.P.A.C.T. Leadership 2007
      • S.T.R.I.V.E. Mentor 2006
    • Environmental Stewardship >
      • The Obama White House Council on Environmental Quality Intern 2009
      • BioTour on the 2008 Campaign Trail
      • aRc of Montara
      • Founded #CleanGwangju
    • Outdoor Education >
      • National Outdoor Leadership School Alumni 2016
      • Rocks + Ropes Facilitator 2011
    • Teaching Abroad >
      • Teaching English in South Korea
    • Activism >
      • PolitiCorps Fellow 2009
      • Young People For Fellow 2007
    • Work with Me >
      • Adam's Edits
  • Travel with Intention
    • And on a Budget >
      • Full-Time Travel on $15 a day
      • Budget Travel Tips
      • More Resources + Recommendations
    • Travel Guides >
      • CouchSurfing: A Travel Style
      • Quick Guide to Housesitting
      • Guide to Help Exchange
    • Countries Lived / Traveled >
      • Africa >
        • Malawi
        • Tanzania
        • Zambia
        • Zimbabwe
      • Asia >
        • Cambodia
        • China
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Israel
        • Japan
        • Laos
        • Malaysia
        • Philippines
        • Singapore
        • South Korea
        • Taiwan
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America >
        • Canada
        • Mexico
        • United States
      • Oceania >
        • Australia
    • CouchSurfing Stories
    • World Travels Photography
    • Adam + Lianne
  • Create Generously
    • Hand-drawn postcard, free to your mailbox
    • CREATE and GIFT
    • Tonight's Watercolor!
    • Prints @ Society6
  • Media
    • Photography >
      • Latest: #SydNYE 2017
      • World Travels >
        • Africa >
          • Malawi
          • Tanzania
          • Zambia
          • Zimbabwe
        • Asia >
          • Cambodia
          • China
          • India
          • Indonesia
          • Israel
          • Japan
          • Laos
          • Malaysia
          • Philippines
          • Singapore
          • South Korea
          • Taiwan
          • Thailand
          • Vietnam
        • North America >
          • Canada
          • Mexico
          • United States
        • Oceania >
          • Australia
      • Motorcycle
      • Disney Cars Tent
      • Jolly Roger Flag
      • 2005 "Phase"
      • Instagram
    • Videography >
      • 1 Second Every Day
      • Motorcycle Rides around Korea
      • BioTour on the 2008 Campaign Trail
      • Skydiving
      • Free 7-Eleven Slurpee Day!
      • Denver 9 News Interview re: Tonight's Watercolor
    • Podcasts >
      • HIV+ Positive Voices: Worldwide
    • Music
    • Korean Students' Drawings of Teacher
    • Early Published Works
    • Books on my Shelf
    • Motivating Quotes
    • Press
    • Published Articles
    • My Upcoming Book
  • Blog