ESL Teacher -- Giving Back and Helping
Others Here are two ways to pay it
forward that I want to share with you. These are not nebulous, faceless
organizations. The great thing about them is you know exactly where your money
goes and to whom.
Children International
For the past twenty
years I have been taking care of two kids at a time through Children International. The
photos you see are the two I am currently taking care of. Their names are
Jhunnie (Phillipines) and Jose (Dominican Republic).
The small amount of
money I send to them each month makes a tremendous difference in their lives.
They get a better education and improved health care. I correspond with them. I
give them words of encouragement and they send me pictures they have drawn and
tell me of their lives and families.
Your small gift offers
health, happiness and hope to one impoverished child and his family. Many of
these sponsored children go on to college and go back into their communties to
help friends and families in need.
Won't you consider
sponsoring a child today? Go the the Children International website today to find out more.
Kiva -- Loans That Change Lives
This company
coordinates micro-loans which encourages entrepreneurship and business activity
to poverty stricken areas around the world. The majority of the loans are made
to women.
Kiva helps you become a partner
with a busines in a far-flung corner of the world. We're talking a minimum of
$25. The loans are not big -- about $300 to $1200. But that little amount can
make a big difference. This is not charity but a partnership. You get to choose
the business you want to partner with. And most of the loans usually get paid
back.
I get kind of choked
up when I think what a tremendous impact this has on people's lives. I made my
first micro-loan, on the day that I am writing this, to Francisca, a 69 year old
widow with a little store. The total loan amount she asked for was $300 for six
months.
When I donated, the
total amount received thus far came to $100 which included a previous loan by
someone else. Twenty minutes after I made that loan I went to the site and saw
that she had been completely funded! Wow!
Not only is this
enriching and inspiring it's a lot of fun. For the price of a few coffees at
Starbucks or a nice meal you could be a micro-lender and get to really be the
bank for a change. Check it out. Kiva.org
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