Kiva CHARITY Swap: Good Karma in 2012! :-)

In the great tradition of Swap-bot generosity, I hope you'll consider joining me in making a donation to an impoverished entrepreneur via www.kiva.org. Loans are made in $25 increments, and you usually have your full loan returned at the end of the repayment term.

We have a small but powerful Swap-bot team on the Kiva site that you may join by clicking HERE. We have 25 members who have micro-loaned nearly $6,000 since 2008!

What is Kiva?

According to their web site, "Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world....When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community."

Swap Requirements:

• Join the Kiva Swap-bot Lenders team.

• Choose someone whose story speaks to you, and make a loan to him or her. I would suggest not waiting until the swap deadline to make a selection, as from time to time available loans to choose from are scarce.

• Send a snail mail note to your partner letting them know who you chose to lend to and why.

• A word about "hearts"--please be generous in your ratings of this swap. As this is a generous and charitable swap, completing it on time and according to the swap description is really "hearth-worthy" in itself.

Please have a filled out profile and no unexplained/unresolved poor ratings. New members are welcome to join; please send me a private message to introduce yourself.

Let's not goof up our good karma by flaking on this charitable swap or giving it a half-hearted effort! ;-)

I hope you have fun with this swap and feel good about helping someone less fortunate. :-)