Today, I loaned $25 to a woman in Tajikistan named Sayora who wants to improve her farm. Along with a few dozen micro-lenders through Kiva.org, we’ve been given the opportunity to help Sayora grow her business and provide for her husband and three kids.
I’ve loaned this same $25 two other times this year – once to a woman in the Philippines and once to a woman in Kenya. The whole process takes about 5 minutes. (If you’d like to join me, please click HERE.)
But this post isn’t about Kiva or getting you to sign up. It’s about opportunity.
We live in amazing times. Every day, we can choose how we use the tools of the Internet, social media, and connections. Do we use these tools to make an impact or do we choose the “just-because?”
It’s pretty easy to get lulled into the “just-because” – hours of online games, memes, viral videos, wasting time with endless surfing. I do it a lot.
But, what would happen if we chose purposefully? The Internet allows us to see more ways to make these “$25 loans” – small gifts, small ways to help others with our time, gifts, and creativity that bring change. And the gifts will come back to us so we can give them again.
I wonder if we live in a moment in time when we could make an impact with these tools like never before. It scares me to think I might waste that chance.
I challenge you this week: find one person you can give something to without looking for something in return. Find someone an answer to a tough question, solve a tricky problem, leave an encouraging comment, or send a stranger a needed job lead. Choose.
I, too, loaned $’s through Kiva! $25 to Miguel in Costa Rica to build furniture & $25 to Alban in Albania for his construction company. Both men need the $’s for their businesses – so that they can take care of their families. Quite encouraging to be part of their businesses.