Interesting take on fighting poverty

[Phelan]

Kiva - Loans that change lives

[thatguy]

Sounds like a decent plan, just hope the "administrative" BS doesn't take a big ass bite into the loan.

I can hear the conversation now:
"yea I want to donate $1k to some guy. Sure, that will get him $426.77 after the fees are applied"

just goes to show that the will and good nature of humanity will come up with a solution, aka more government is not the answer

[gammawolf]

interesting program. it's better than the rest of those feed the children kind of promotions.

[poormansporsche]

Originally Posted by thatguy

Sounds like a decent plan, just hope the "administrative" BS doesn't take a big ass bite into the loan.

I can hear the conversation now:
"yea I want to donate $1k to some guy. Sure, that will get him $426.77 after the fees are applied"

just goes to show that the will and good nature of humanity will come up with a solution, aka more government is not the answer

I'm more worried about whether there is any serious oversight as to whether any funds are ultimately being used to promote (in any varied or circuitous manner) Al Quieda operations.

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by poormansporsche

I'm more worried about whether there is any serious oversight as to whether any funds are ultimately being used to promote (in any varied or circuitous manner) Al Quieda operations.

kinda what I was thinking in my post I just didn't put it that way

[Phelan]

Originally Posted by thatguy

Sounds like a decent plan, just hope the "administrative" BS doesn't take a big ass bite into the loan.

I can hear the conversation now:
"yea I want to donate $1k to some guy. Sure, that will get him $426.77 after the fees are applied"

just goes to show that the will and good nature of humanity will come up with a solution, aka more government is not the answer

Supposedly all administrative costs are paid for through separate donations made directly to Kiva with all donations to a particular individual going to them without any skimming for Kiva or the institution handling the transaction within the country. But I haven't the time yet to confirm if its true.

[the750]

is this an answer to poverty? this is very small scale. it's a great idea but not going to put a dent into the problem.

[thatguy]

I still believe in the "teach a man to fish" theory though, even if it is one at a time

[poormansporsche]

^^^ +1 It is definitely a great concept.

[Infiniti514]

you are lending money to people in need of it. what makes you think you'll get that money back anytime soon....if at all??

[poormansporsche]

I thought the premise was for the money to be used to create/expand a business of some sort so that there was a potential for repayment of loan principle...same basic business practices as anywhere else, just on a much lower economic scale. The money was not just supposed to be a handout for a needy family.

[GZire]

Originally Posted by thatguy

I still believe in the "teach a man to fish" theory though, even if it is one at a time

I'm very cynical. I think that most don't have the basic skills to run a business. I think it's set to fail unless they are mentored.