We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation. Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!

Commemorative Loans

Some of us combine genealogy with Kiva by making 'commemorative loans' on dates that have special significance for our family. For example, Pauleen said, "In honour of my father whose 89th birthday would have been this week, I've made a loan to Gevorg from Armenia so he can pay his daughter's first semester university fees. My father worked hard to give me a tertiary education so I think he'd be happy with this choice."

Genealogists for Families team members used Kiva loans to pay tribute to these people:

If you have written a blog post or created a Web page explaining why you chose a specific, appropriate borrower and made a Kiva loan in honour of a family member, tell me the URL so that I can link to it. Leave a comment here, or email me.
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9 comments:

  1. I will be making a commemorative loan in Joan's honor. Can you tell me how to do so?
    http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2013/01/in-loving-memory-of-joan-miller-genetic.html

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    1. CeCe, that's a lovely idea, and I will be following your example. Perhaps more of Joan's friends would like to do the same. There are two options:

      (1) Make an ordinary loan and (in your blog post) explain that it is in memory of Joan. This is what our team calls a 'commemorative loan'. Repayments will go to you so that you can re-lend the money over and over again.

      (2) Alternatively you can make what Kiva calls a 'dedicated loan'. During the checkout process, in 'My Basket', select the option 'Dedicate this loan' (but note that with a Dedicated Loan the repayments will be donated to Kiva instead of being returned to you).

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    2. I chose #2. Here it is: https://www.kiva.org/dedication/513852

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  2. Hi Judy.

    I joined your group on Kiva and made a loan in Joan's name. I also wrote about Joan and Kiva on my blog at In Memory of Joan Miller

    I'll miss her - the genealogy community has lost a bright light

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  3. Judy, I decided to make a normal loan so the gift can go on giving for years to come. I'm sorry I didn't know Joan -she seemed such a lovely vivacious lady.

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  4. My condolences to all whose life was touched by Joan, and especially to her family.
    I've made my 10th loan a commemorative loan in her memory.
    http://www.dixie9.com/2013/01/kiva-commemorative-loan-in-memory-of.html

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  5. I would like to commemorate Joan Miller with my recent loan to Egor in Georgia. Egor lives in a 4-generation household including his young child and the loan is classed as a start-up loan, so seemed to symbolise new beginnings. My condolences to Joan's friends and family.

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  6. Made some various donations dedicated to Joan Miller (my mother) from some money found in best wishes cards.

    Thanks to all who supported her!

    Thanks again for setting all of this up.

    http://www.kiva.org/dedication/524268
    http://www.kiva.org/dedication/525291
    http://www.kiva.org/dedication/525590

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