Kiva.org provides loans to small businesses around the world via the Internet.
Anyone can use the Kiva website to lend their own money to an entrepreneur that needs their help.
The businesses range from taxi drivers in Kazakhstan to pig farmers in Cambodia.
Matt Flannery founded Kiva in 2005.
He and Kiva president Premal Shah are the driving forces behind this social enterprise.
Premal gave me a guided tour.
Basically, you can go online to www.kiva.org and essentially sift through entrepreneurs in need of loan.
And when you sift through these entrepreneurs, you can actually read about their life story.
And then when you make a loan to someone, you can follow their story and how their business is growing.
I made the trip to Tanzania to see the impact of receiving a Kiva loan. Dar Es Salaam, the business capital of Tanzania.
It's one of Africa's fastest growing cities, and it's overflowing with small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, who for many, a small loan of a few hundred dollars could make a huge difference.
Rita, a Kiva coordinator for one of their field partners, took me to meet a Kasaba seller whose life had been changed by one such loan.
And what is she selling here?
"She's selling Kasaba. She fries it, and then she sells it to the people who are having breakfast."
And how important, Rita, has the loan been for Atuna?
"I used to sell kasaba for two hours, and then I was out of stock."
"With the loan I can buy more stock and work for four hours. And now I'm selling ice cream as well."
So, she's expanding the business. Good. This is very good.
"So, she has more products to sell, and she'll appeal to more people."
She's making really good progress, I think.
Just looking into Atuna's eyes, you can tell that this loan has really made a difference.
She's a person who has a business and much to my surprise, she's expanding it, bringing in other products.
Spike potato, right. Its like a potato. It's not bad, like a sort of big french fry.
Next, I was about to meet another business that had been a kick-started by a Kiva loan from lenders around the globe.
Very nice to meet you and this is your shop, isn't it?
Nama runs a pharmacy. She also sells clothes door to door.
So, when did she decide to expand her business?
After I got the loan, I decided to expand. With the capital, I bought more clothes and I opened my pharmacy. So in addition to the pharmacy and the clothing, you're a singer also.
In the evening, during the summer, when the sun shines, I sing in the band.
She sells the clothing, she has the pharmacy, and she sings. Which one is her real passion?
I have been a singer for so many years, so singing is a big par t 0f me. But I've also seen people make a success of business, and that is my dream. I want to be a successful businesswoman too.
Neema has lots of business ideas. Diversity will strengthen her income. I just hope she doesn't spread herself too thin.
I'm off to visit Atuna at home, as I hear she also has other lines of work.
And, I want to know about the impact of the loan on her life outside of business.
So Atuna, how did the loan help you out?
Now I have the money to take my child to school. I can pay for her transport, and tuition. And for me, I have money for my personal use, expenses. And this helps. Ofoshi took out a loan. Atuna, whose husband left her to raise her daughter alone, was moving from one neighborhood to the next, selling illegal alcohol. Now she sells cassava, ice cream, and she has a booming fabric business.
It is time to practice my sales technique as I join Atuna selling fabric. I'm sure I'll be a great help.
To her she's a supermodel.
Yeah, she lives like that.
Ask her if she's going to buy it.
Is she?
Oh good! That's two sales. Bravo!
If you were selling cassava, how long would it take you to make the same money that you make by selling fabric?
The profit from cassava is very different.Fabric is better, because I get my stock at half the price I sell it for.
Good, good.
Well, let's go on to your next sale.
Not only is Atuna's business backed by borrowed money, but she herself extends credit to her customers. A clever strategy, but not without risks.
What happens if somebody can't pay?
They usually pay me every day, and within two weeks all payments should be finished.
Bravo! Bravo!
You deserve congratulations. You really do.
If you want to help an enterprenuer like Atuna, then get involved and visit the Kiva web site at www.kiva.org, and make a loan.
