Research has shown that giving to others can lead to a healthier, happier and longer life. Generous behavior reduces depression and risk of suicide in adolescents. Volunteerism on the part of older adults significantly reduces mortality. Giving to others enables people to forgive themselves for mistakes; a key element in well-being.
One way to have a lot of fun on the internet and get a health boost while doing so is to log onto a cool site called
Kiva.org. For as little as $25.00, ordinary people like you and me can be part of the world-wide micro-loan community. Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
I have made 14 Kiva loans and I got to pick the recipients. By viewing the photos and reading the bios, I wait until a person "speaks" to me. I like loaning to women because I know that when women are able to earn money, they spend it on their children's education and it benefits the entire village. This morning I loaned $25.00 to contribute to funding a woman in Nicaragua expand her retail store. She is 60 years old, single and has 4 children. Other loans have been to a baker in El Salvador and a woman who does charcoal sales in Togo. She is illiterate but supports her family and sends her children to school. In many developing countries school costs money and these people live on so little that they cannot afford uniforms or pencils. Sending a child to school is a huge deal. She has paid back 22% of the loan and is right on time with repayments.
My loans to Kenya, Tajikistan, Palestine, Uganda and Nigeria (Afolabi Ibiwoye seen in this photo) have been paid back 100% and I can re-loan that money. Yippee! I am feeling healthier and better already.
Kiva.org is really fun to surf. Check it out and get healthy too.
9 comments:
What an interesting and fantastic way to make a differance in someone's life. How great that they were able to pay you back so the women you made loans to could feel pride of earning enough to pay you back. Beautiful thing you have done to give each of them hope and more oppertunity for a better life for them and their family. Thank you for doing this and letting us know about Kiva!
I'm going to give to Kiva right now. Thanks for this great tip and yes, I feel better already
What a great post and great idea! I am sending the link around.
This is such a wonderful idea! Thanks! :D
Can I make a suggestion? I think youve got something good here. But what if you happen to added a couple links to a page that backs up what youre saying? Or perhaps you could possibly give us something to take a look at, something that might join what youre saying to one thing tangible? Just a suggestion. Anyway, in my language, there will not be much good supply like this.
Your weblog is fine. I simply need to comment on the design. Its too loud. Its doing method too much and it takes away from what youve got to say --which I feel is admittedly important. I dont know if you happen to didnt suppose that your phrases may hold everyones attention, however you have been wrong. Anyway, in my language, there usually are not much good source like this.
Fantastic website. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!
Daniel, yea I can see what you did there. I actually liked that part, but hehe I'm not that harsh like my dad with these things. He at all times tells me crazy stories again in the day and calls me a loser. I assume it's time I transfer out of my parents' basement LOL. Aaanyways, what about you? what does your dad assume xD" Anyway, in my language, there usually are not much good source like this.
Quite worthwhile info, thank you for the article.
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