Hello MIS classmates,
Jenna Koehler and I would like to inform all of you about a new student organization
created over the summer called Team Kiva. The purpose of this club
is to raise awareness about micro-lending through the Kiva web site, as well
as to help facilitate direct lending to help alleviate poverty throughout
the world.
Some of you may have already heard about micro-lending and/or Kiva in the news
from sources such as The Wall Street Journal, PBS, or even a feature on the
Oprah Winfrey Show. For those that have not, please read the following
statement taken from the Kiva.org web site:
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating
poverty. Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website,
empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the
globe. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose
someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make
great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves,
their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually
6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments.
Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in
need.
Team Kiva has set up a Dominican University lending team on the Kiva web site
and already raised over $800 in Dominican University's name thus far, with
the goal of lending at least $5000 by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. All
students, faculty, staff, friends, and the Dominican community at large are
invited to join this effort. For more information about the lenders,
the money that has been raised, and most importantly the people that have
been affected, please go to:
http://www.kiva.org/team/dominican_university
Team Kiva is sponsoring two events this week for anyone that is interested
in micro-lending. On Wednesday, September 16th, there will be a Tea
Kiosk set up in the Lewis Alcove where you can sample tea from around the
world as well as listen to live music. On Thursday, September 17th,
there will be a pizza party from 5:00 - 6:30 in the Springer Suites where
you can hear how Kiva works in more detail. Please stop by if you
are on campus either day. If you can't make either event, but would
like to be part of the Dominican University lending team on Kiva, please
email me at
albrchri@my.dom.edu