Season's Greetings from Bluecoat
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.
Nodari in Georgia, pay for the first year of his degree in Economics and Business
Victor in Honduras buy spare parts for his car as he is a taxi driver
Suraymi in Colombia, purchase more supplies for her shop
Alkion in Albania, pay for his daughters first year at university
Koeurn in Cambodia to fix her roof
Esther in Kenya, purchase fertilizer for her banana crop
Gulnoza in Tajikistan, buy a sewing machine for her business
San Juan in Peru, single parent needing home improvements after a fire
To date Bluecoat Wealth Management has made 296 loans, totalling $7,500 to people in Agriculture, Clothing, Further Education, Food, Manufacturing, Retail, Services and Transportation sectors in 70 countries around the world. In addition to which a further 41 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:
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 2021.
*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.
