I just ran across these stats from Kiva (a 501(c)3 organization specializing in economic development & poverty reduction using western capital to build struggling economies), and they are staggering….

Total value of all loans made through Kiva: $67,586,685
Number of Kiva Lenders: 475,709
Number of loans that have been funded through Kiva: 96,802
Percentage of Kiva loans which have been made to women entrepreneurs: 77.83%
Number of Kiva Field Partners (microfinance institutions Kiva partners with): 94
Number of countries Kiva Field Partners are located in: 44
Current repayment rate (all partners): 97.97%
Current default rate (all partners): 2.03%
Average loan size (This is the average amount loaned to an individual Kiva Entrepreneur. Some loans – group loans – are divided between a group of borrowers.): $422.28
Average total amount loaned per Kiva Lender (includes reloaned funds): $142.37
Average number of loans per Kiva Lender: 3.95

Did you see that repayment rate?! 97.97% Domestic lenders would give their first-born for repayment like that.

In a world where there is so much need, and information bombardment to the extent that many of us do not know where to start, Kiva is an excellent venue through which we can engage one of the great causes of our day.

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