This is a nice segment by Susan Hay of Global News on Story Planet. It goes a bit into not just what it is and how the programs are delivered, but also WHY the program is important.

Story Planet on Global from Story Planet on Vimeo.

I’m reading this book.  For fifteen years, the authors have worked with the poor in dozens of countries spanning 5 continents, trying to understand the specific problems that come with poverty and to find proven solutions.

They posit that the reason why so many anti-poverty policies have failed is because of an inadequate understanding of poverty and the related problems.  So far, I’m finding their pragmatism hopeful and their thoughtfulness refreshing.

 

Why would a man in Morocco who doesn’t have enough to eat buy a television?

Why is it so hard for children in poor areas to learn even when they attend school?

Why do the poorest people in the Indian state of Maharashtra spend 7 percent of their food budget on sugar?

Does having lots of children actually make you poorer?

via Poor Economics | Poor Economics.

I’ve talked about Kiva before and have had great experiences with it, so I’m starting another round of lending.

Kiva.org is the first website that provides a way to do person-to-person micro-lending and it is a great idea.

Here’s why… It basically takes the Child Sponsorship model that we’ve all seen. This is where you would sponsor a specific child in a developing country and send them some money. In return, the child sends you updates and photos of themselves. While, this is all good and well, the problem is that while the feedback to the sponsor is engaging and maximizes the continuation of sponsorship, the administration costs are EXTREMELY high.

Kiva.org does basically the same thing with entrepreneurs. It lets you look at their profiles and lend to those individuals or groups in which you’re interested. So, while you get “journal” reports and repayment data etc…it all happens online and at very low cost. Smart! The people that need the money get it, and there is very little “friction” along the way.

It is a sustainable way of empowering them to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. I’m also very interested in women’s issues in the developing world, so my lending bias is towards women. But, that’s just my schtick…you can lend to anyone you like!

Come check it out…and join me! It is fun and you know it, your karma can stand a bit of cleansing!

Kiva.org is billed as “Loans that change lives…”

I love the idea of being able to loan small sums (microloans/microcredit) as an individually, or as a collective, to specific entrepreneurs in developing countries. This empowers individuals and sometimes entire villages in some of the poorest areas of the world to run businesses and lift themselves out of poverty.

Here’s something that you can do as an individual to help. Will you?

Kiva.org — check it out!

Send a Message to Senate leaders and your MP
Join over 230,000 others who have signed on to Make Poverty History.

Make Poverty History supports Bill C-293 as part of its call for not just more, but better aid.

Bill C-293 would require Canadian foreign aid to contribute to poverty reduction; take into account the perspectives of the poor; and be consistent with Canada’s international human rights obligations.

The Senate will be recessing in June for the summer. We need to get Bill C-293 passed by the Senate before the summer break. Send an e-mail to the Senate leadership at http://makepovertyhistory.ca/e/home.php and let them know that you want them to act now to help make poverty history.