I stumbled across Kiva.org a couple of years ago, but failed to sign-up due to problems with my Paypal account, now fortunately rectified.
What a great use of technology to aid the world’s less well off would-be entrepreneurs (and actual ones.) Kiva.org (www.kiva.org) is an online system based in San Fransisco that unites anyone willing to make small interest free loans to entrepreneurs in some of the worlds poorer countries.
Am struggling to embed a sweet little film, that traces a $25 loan made in London to the recipient in Cambodia, but you can access it here.
Unlike a charitable gift, the loan is repaid (typically between 6-18 months) putting the money back into the lenders paypal account, which can then be withdrawn or hopefully re-lent to another worthy borrower.
So far around 400,000 people have received loans helping them set up or expand their small business. $150 million lent and people in 200 countries benefited.
Take a look, the interface is very easy to use and apart from being tempted to help you might get a rush of gratefulness for how lucky we are.
When Jamie’s brother Stephen was diagnosed with ALS, a fatal, progressive degenerative paralysing disease, they jointly founded a Social Medical site www.patientslikeme.com
Through sharing the symptoms of major life-changing illnesses, treatments, personal stories, the brothers have founded a genuinely helpful knowledge network.
What a good use of techmology and what a good use of an illness, to help others.
Above, you can see a summary film (though its 16 mins long) that Jamie gave to Ted Talks.
This film was posted less than a week ago. As of that time, 45,000 patients, people, treatments, records had signed up. Great stuff.
Thanks to Abdulmohsen at JWT Saudi Arabia for sharing this.
A short while back (see October 25th blog last year) we posted Randy Pauch’s “The Last Lecture” – a truly moving video (and book) of this great Professor’s “Last Lecture” at Carnegie-Mellon.
Life goes full circle, and today here is Steve Jobs’s commencement address at Stanford. Ironically both Steve and Randy took the hardship of pancreatic cancer as part of their inspiration. Clearly only part, they are remarkable men in sickness and health.
Enjoy the lecture …. and thanks to Simon Wong for sharing.
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