ModestNeeds.org - Helping Others − 8 December, 2007
Helping Others
Christmas is just around the corner. So is Chanukkah, Eid, and other similarly-themed holidays from different cultures.
Giving to others is a personal choice. I'd like to let you know about two organizations that can make a difference.
Kiva (www.kiva.org) helps people in third world countries start businesses. Through Kiva, you can make a microloan to help someone start a business. Each recipient is pre-approved and is sponsored through an agency or skills training program from their country. Kiva has a 99 percent repayment rate. I donated $50 to a Colombian who was starting a mechanic's shop in Colombia and $50 to a pharmacist in Africa.
I like Kiva and felt good about making a loan. However, there are many people in my country, the United States who also need help. I wanted to find a "Kiva-like" business that helped people from my country.
ModestNeeds (www.modestneeds.org) helps people in the U.S. who need money. The only difference - you are making a donation, not a loan. Each recipient is pre-approved and the donation you make is given to the organization or company that the recipient needs to pay. For example, if the person is requesting money to help pay their rent, the money is directly paid to the landlord.
Since I gave $100 to Kiva, I decided to give $100 to ModestNeeds. I found a family that needed money to pay for their children's eye glasses. I donated $100 and few days later I received an email telling me that my and other's donations went to that family's eye doctor.
I do a lot of blogging and enjoy helping others learn English as a Second Language. If I could choose only one thing that you learn from this blog, it is to help others. It is by far the greatest thing that you can do.
Giving to others is a personal choice. I'd like to let you know about two organizations that can make a difference.
Kiva (www.kiva.org) helps people in third world countries start businesses. Through Kiva, you can make a microloan to help someone start a business. Each recipient is pre-approved and is sponsored through an agency or skills training program from their country. Kiva has a 99 percent repayment rate. I donated $50 to a Colombian who was starting a mechanic's shop in Colombia and $50 to a pharmacist in Africa.
I like Kiva and felt good about making a loan. However, there are many people in my country, the United States who also need help. I wanted to find a "Kiva-like" business that helped people from my country.
ModestNeeds (www.modestneeds.org) helps people in the U.S. who need money. The only difference - you are making a donation, not a loan. Each recipient is pre-approved and the donation you make is given to the organization or company that the recipient needs to pay. For example, if the person is requesting money to help pay their rent, the money is directly paid to the landlord.
Since I gave $100 to Kiva, I decided to give $100 to ModestNeeds. I found a family that needed money to pay for their children's eye glasses. I donated $100 and few days later I received an email telling me that my and other's donations went to that family's eye doctor.
I do a lot of blogging and enjoy helping others learn English as a Second Language. If I could choose only one thing that you learn from this blog, it is to help others. It is by far the greatest thing that you can do.
