Photo by ChildrensWishList
Simplifying my holiday plans is a hallmark step for me this year in achieving balance. Being overwhelmed with party plans, food menus, and gift shopping have, in the past, cast a shadow over the more meaningful reasons for the season. When I am running from store to store, digging deep in my pockets for uninspired or less-than-thoughtful gifts, and trying to make everyone happy, I forget why I am even celebrating. It all winds up as one big, stressful, fast-paced event that is over before I even had the chance to enjoy it. Whatever your tradition, this time of year offers the opportunity to sit back, reflect, and enjoy time with loved ones.
I don’t need a single material thing. I have a comfortable home, all of my necessities, and far more “extravagancies” than I really need. So when people have asked me what I want for Christmas this year, my genuine response is: NOTHING. I really do not want you to spend your hard-earned money on me; I do not want to have to find a place for some knick-knack that I don’t have space for; and I do not want to contribute to making the holidays about STUFF. Rather, I would appreciate your time, a visit, or just your thoughts.
My loved ones, probably like yours, aren’t going for it. They say things like, “Well, I’m going to buy you something anyway, so you better just give me a list.” Unfortunately, we tend to feel like we haven’t done enough if we haven’t gotten someone a gift for a special occasion. If they can’t or won’t do something homemade, another option is a charitable donation. (If you are one of my loved ones who cannot go without buying a gift, please, please, please continue reading!)
Some people in the blogging community have grouped together to provide a resource for all of those gift-determined folks who need an outlet for their cash. The “Blog with Heart Challenge” is being hosted by Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN and Arvind Devalia of Make It Happen and starts today, December 1, 2009. The Challenge is joining forces with Kiva, a highly respected micro-lending non-profit organization, to challenge bloggers and readers to alleviate poverty throughout the world. Sounds like a pretty daunting task – much harder than just running to Target to pick up a sweater – but stay with me to see how easy and effective it is... and how you could get involved.
Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website. Its stated mission is to “connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.” You may have heard of the concept or the organization through testimonies by people like Oprah Winfrey or Bill Clinton or in FORTUNE magazine or on the Today Show. In fact, Muhammad Yunus founded his Grameen bank in 1976 as a resource for micro-loans to the poor; thirty years later, in 2006, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in eradicating poverty through his organization. You can learn more details about micro-lending at Kiva’s website, as well as information about the specifics of how the organization works. The basic idea is this: you lend a small amount of money (as little as $25) to a low-income entrepreneur in a developing country. They then use that money to start a business that they can grow and use to support their family and community. Most low-income entrepreneurs do not have access to traditional bank loans, and while they may only need a few dollars to get started, they are not able to build a business that would eventually sustain them financially… thus ending their struggle with poverty. Your loan would allow them to do that.
Kiva provides a forum for you to connect directly with low-income entrepreneurs. You can read about them, their business goals, and the progress they are making toward supporting themselves and their families. You can choose an individual and make a loan directly to them. You may have the opportunity to receive email updates about how that person is doing with their business and your loan, and stay connected to their progress. The Blog with Heart Challenge is one opportunity to get involved alongside other :simple:balance:rs. It is (no pun intended) simple:
I don’t need a single material thing. I have a comfortable home, all of my necessities, and far more “extravagancies” than I really need. So when people have asked me what I want for Christmas this year, my genuine response is: NOTHING. I really do not want you to spend your hard-earned money on me; I do not want to have to find a place for some knick-knack that I don’t have space for; and I do not want to contribute to making the holidays about STUFF. Rather, I would appreciate your time, a visit, or just your thoughts.
My loved ones, probably like yours, aren’t going for it. They say things like, “Well, I’m going to buy you something anyway, so you better just give me a list.” Unfortunately, we tend to feel like we haven’t done enough if we haven’t gotten someone a gift for a special occasion. If they can’t or won’t do something homemade, another option is a charitable donation. (If you are one of my loved ones who cannot go without buying a gift, please, please, please continue reading!)
Some people in the blogging community have grouped together to provide a resource for all of those gift-determined folks who need an outlet for their cash. The “Blog with Heart Challenge” is being hosted by Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN and Arvind Devalia of Make It Happen and starts today, December 1, 2009. The Challenge is joining forces with Kiva, a highly respected micro-lending non-profit organization, to challenge bloggers and readers to alleviate poverty throughout the world. Sounds like a pretty daunting task – much harder than just running to Target to pick up a sweater – but stay with me to see how easy and effective it is... and how you could get involved.
Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website. Its stated mission is to “connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.” You may have heard of the concept or the organization through testimonies by people like Oprah Winfrey or Bill Clinton or in FORTUNE magazine or on the Today Show. In fact, Muhammad Yunus founded his Grameen bank in 1976 as a resource for micro-loans to the poor; thirty years later, in 2006, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in eradicating poverty through his organization. You can learn more details about micro-lending at Kiva’s website, as well as information about the specifics of how the organization works. The basic idea is this: you lend a small amount of money (as little as $25) to a low-income entrepreneur in a developing country. They then use that money to start a business that they can grow and use to support their family and community. Most low-income entrepreneurs do not have access to traditional bank loans, and while they may only need a few dollars to get started, they are not able to build a business that would eventually sustain them financially… thus ending their struggle with poverty. Your loan would allow them to do that.
Kiva provides a forum for you to connect directly with low-income entrepreneurs. You can read about them, their business goals, and the progress they are making toward supporting themselves and their families. You can choose an individual and make a loan directly to them. You may have the opportunity to receive email updates about how that person is doing with their business and your loan, and stay connected to their progress. The Blog with Heart Challenge is one opportunity to get involved alongside other :simple:balance:rs. It is (no pun intended) simple:
1. Sign up and register with Kiva here.
2. Go to the :simple:balance: Lending Team and click the “Join Now” button.
3. Click on “LEND” in the navigation bar, and then choose someone that you would like to make a loan to. Browse the possibilities, read about people’s business goals and dreams, and choose someone (or multiple people) that you would like to help.
4. Boost the :simple:balance: team! On the “My Basket” page, in the upper right hand section, type :simple:balance: blog in the box.
5. Continue with the payment process.
6. Enjoy the feeling of helping someone to support themselves, their family, and their community. You have just taken a step towards ending world poverty.
7. After the loan you made is repaid, you can lend that same money to another low-income entrepreneur. Keep on enjoying the process!
Consider charitable gifts for the holidays this year. Inform your loved ones that you would prefer the simple route this year: a donation to someone who needs it would be much appreciated. You may have a favorite organization that you contribute to already – consider upping your donation this year in honor of your loved ones. If you want them to have something to open on the big day, write up a description of the organization, their mission and goals, and how your donation, in their honor, will help – wrap it up and present it to the people you love. Maybe you will even motivate someone else to do the same! If you are interested in taking a step toward eradicating world poverty, please check into the “Blog with Heart Challenge” and Kiva. It is amazing how fewer wrapped boxes and less money spent on gadgets can alleviate stress and foster a sense of balance… and appreciation for the holidays.
What do you think about charitable giving? Are you going to give the “Blog with Heart Challenge” a try this year? What other suggestions and ideas do you have?
Posts
Hey guys - it's great to see that you've joined! Every loan makes a huge difference to people who are struggling to escape poverty.
ReplyDeleteActually, lending through Kiva is addictive :-)
You get such a high from lending a hand to people who want to help themselves. And the nice thing about Kiva is that they let you know how the person you've lent to is doing.
Let's make it happen!
Mary | Goodlife ZEN