More Than WE Know

One of the key challenges of running a small business is cash flow. The opportunities abound but you don’t always have enough cash to take advantage of them:

• You have orders piling up, but not enough cash to buy raw materials
• You could be more productive if you had better equipment, but can’t afford the investment
• You could get more done if you hired an assistant, but you don’t have enough money short-term to make the payroll.

These are the challenges faced by the Women Entrepreneurs I work with. These are also the challenges faced by the entrepreneurs who come to the Kiva organization.

Kiva is a non-profit organization that connects entrepreneurs in economically depressed areas with people like you and me.

Kiva partners with local micro-finance institutions to identify entrepreneurs who would benefit from a short-term micro loan (usually $150 -$1200 USD paid back in 6 to 12 months).

These loans help the entrepreneurs grow their businesses and obtain sustainable success.

While Kiva works with both male and female entrepreneurs, microfinance investments have traditionally helped Women Entrepreneurs. Many organizations find that women are very responsible about repaying the loans and invest the profits in ensuring a better life for themselves and their children.

According to Kiva:

“Microfinance programs have generally targeted poor women. By providing access to financial services only through women—making women responsible for loans, ensuring repayment through women, maintaining savings accounts for women, providing insurance coverage through women—microfinance programs send a strong message to households as well as to communities.

Many qualitative and quantitative studies have documented how access to financial services has improved the status of women within the family and the community. Women have become more assertive and confident. In regions where women’s mobility is strictly regulated, women have become more visible and are better able to negotiate the public sphere. Women own assets, including land and housing, and play a stronger role in decision making.

In some programs that have been active over many years, there are even reports of declining levels of violence against women.” (CGAP)

The women themselves report increased confidence and levels of self-esteem as they develop control over their own lives.

Kiva accepts loans of $25 USD. You select the entrepreneur you want to help, track their repayment process and get reports on their business progress. When the loan is repaid, Kiva returns your funds or enables you to re-loan the money to another entrepreneur.

Women Entrepreneurs have the ability to change the world, More Than WE Know.

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