HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES: GIVE A HANDUP, NOT A HAND-OUT

It’s this time of the month again, when I help fund a new loan on Kiva to an aspiring entrepreneur, a family, or a group of farmer or local grocers in a third-world country. This time I chose to contribute $25 – in the name of “Team Steem”, as always – towards funding a $675 loan to Salesia’s group. The group needs to borrow this money in order to gain access to cost-efficient hybrid seeds and fertiliser for growing maize, and also to buy solar lanterns.

This is Salesia herself, in Iringa, Tanzania:

Salesia’s Group’s story

Salesia’s Group was formed by five smallholder farmers in Iringa Two District and is being represented by Salesia (on the photo above). She is 54 years old and has 8 children. Salesia has been a farmer for more than 20 years and is often referred to as a very friendly person by the people who know her.

Salesia will use this loan to buy fertiliser and maize seeds and also to purchase three solar lights. She is very excited about this last one, since now she will be able to have light during dark hours, so that her kids can do their homework.

Besides Salesia herself there’s also Mahamdu, Waziri, Bahati, and George in her group of borrowers.

…and this is also why I decided to lend $25 to fund this loan this morning:

You can join me and the “Team Steem” on Kiva and give people like Salesia, Mahamdu, Waziri, Bahati, and George a handup – not a handout – because your loan will be eventually repaid to you. $25 may seem like a small amount to you, but to someone in a developing country it might mean an opportunity to improve their lives, lives of their families and local communities.

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