Making a difference at Christmas
Since December 2010, instead of sending our clients traditional Christmas cards, Bluecoat Wealth Management has sent electronic greetings cards and added the money saved to our Kiva account.
I first heard about Kiva, at a philanthropy talk given by the Charities Aid Foundation who described Kiva as a new kind of Charitable Giving* or a new way for Philanthropists to use their money. Kiva enables individuals and companies to lend to people and small businesses in the Third World. This micro-finance is used to help low-income individuals lift themselves out of poverty improving the lives of their family and boosting the community in which they live.
The Kiva model is very simple.
You select an applicant to lend to on the Kiva website. These loans are made possible by Kiva Partners who vet, administer and disburse each loan.
You receive updates on your loan and the person you have helped through emails and the Kiva website.
As the loan is repaid, the money becomes available in your Kiva account.
Once you have sufficient in your account, you can use it to fund another loan, donate it to Kiva, or withdraw it to spend on something else.
To date Bluecoat Wealth Management has made 253 loans, totalling $6,425 to people in Agriculture, Clothing, Further Education, Food, Manufacturing, Retail, Services and Transportation sectors in 65 countries around the world. In addition to which a further 37 loans have been made by clients who we have invited to help us on Kiva.
This Christmas, instead of burdening your local postman we have lent to and helped:
Gulbarg, in Tajikistan, buy a sewing machine for her embroidery business
Sandra in Honduras buy solar products for her solar freezer system
Thierry in Rwanda, purchase more food and supplies for his shop
Mariam in Georgia pay for her batchelor’s degree in social sciences and health
Lasha in Georgia, pay for the second year of his degree course in IT
Elder Mariano in Honduras buy fertilizers for his farm
Jose in Honduras buy solar products for his solar freezer system
Lilit in Armenia buy an enhanced computer and software for her business
If you would like to help us alleviate poverty by making loans as small as $25, join our lending team so that we can work together to expand opportunity for borrowers worldwide. Click here http://bit.ly/VLmSOc. We are also keen for our clients to become involved making lending decisions on our behalf, please do contact us if you are interested.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and successful 2020.
*Kiva is a Not-For-Profit Organisation rather than a UK registered Charity. Lending to the working poor through Kiva involves risk of principal loss. Kiva does not guarantee repayment nor do they offer a financial return on your loan. Bluecoat Wealth Management regularly supports Kiva, although they are not connected with us.
