Better to Kiva than Receiva

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. – Maya Angelou

I’ve heard that performing an act of kindness not only increases serotonin (the happy neurotransmitter that affects our moods) in the person receiving the kindness but also in the person offering the good deed. And the chain reaction of goodness doesn’t stop there, even someone observing an act of kindness will receive a boost of serotonin. In other words, being kind to others – or witnessing it – may be better than a dose of anti-depressants.

And you may discover that when you give to others, you give to yourself.

During the holidays, when the spirit of giving (and hoping to receive) is ever-present, I’ve found a wonderful place where you can give to others while raising your own happiness and feel-good quotient to a new level.

Enter Kiva.org – loans that change lives.

Kiva is the world’s first micro-financing website where individuals (like you and me) can go online and lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe, usually in developing countries. For as little as $25 you can make a loan and change a life. Whether it’s a rice farmer in Cambodia, women selling clothing in Sierre Leone or a small business in Peru, you choose whom you would like to support and Kiva looks after the rest.

Kiva’s field partners, micro-finance institutions operating around the world, approve and disburse the microloan to the entrepreneur in their community. Within 6-12 months the loan is repaid, and you can reinvest it with Kiva.org or receive your money back.

Here’s the story of a Kiva loan and how it all works.