Bluecoat Christmas Give Back
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 microfinance 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.
1. 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.
2. You receive updates on your loan and the person you have helped through emails and the Kiva website.
3. As the loan is repaid, the money becomes available in your Kiva account.
4. 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 386 loans, totalling $9,745 to people in Agriculture, Clothing, Further Education, Food, Manufacturing, Retail, Services and Transportation sectors in 75 countries around the world. In addition to which a further 46 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;
Ninetou, a retailer in Togo, buy charcoal to re-sell
Jose in Nicaragua buy materials to dig a sump
Irene in Paraguay, buy animal feed for her dairy business
Alisher in Tajikistan pay for his higher education program
Daly in Bolivia, buy supplies for her catering business
German in Peru buy organic soil amendments for his coffee plantation
Amelia in Tonga buy thread and fabric for her embroidery business
Elena in Moldova buy materials to finish her bathroom
Esther buy stock for her retail business in Congo.
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 2023.
*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.
