The $100 Micro VC Maddy Fund & Kiva's Third World Entrepreneures

Third world entrepreneures will be receiving some VC funding this Christmas... in the amount of $100 from the Micro VC Maddy Fund.

 
Kiva.org is a microloan sight that lends money to third world entrepreneures in help their businesses and grow markets and economies.  So...

I've decided to facilitate this process and hopefully my daughter and I will learn from and teach each other something along the way.

My daughter will be receiving a gift certificate for $100 that she can invest in entrepreneurs who need access to capital. My expectation is that these tiny loans will be repaid and that I'll provide Maddy with $100 next year to ad to her Micro VC Maddy Fund. Then we'll sit down and have a talk about expectations and responsibilities. I think of this as a kind of 'Pass It On' project

I'm adding the $100 Micro VC Maddy Fund as a new category but I'm sure Maddy will be posting about on her blog at Pony Tail Club.

During the week between Christmas and New Years  Madison will be responsible for using the Kiva site to find 4 receipients to loan $25 each to. (Kiva uses a technique that allows / encourages this.) She will have to report to me why she chose this individual over all the others.

One of the most important in my mind is that she understands the finality of this act. Loaning money to one person means that you're not loaning money to someone else. Maddys decisions will carry repercussions for individuals that she needs to consider and not take lightly.

My goals in doing this are:

• I believe in Kiva mission and want to support them.
• I believe in my daughter and her sense of justice.
• I want my daughter to realize exacltly how privledged she is and respect those who are less fortunate.
• I want my daughter to feel the joy of successfully helping someone.
• I want my daughter to learn something of decision making and repercussions.

I'd encourage anyone who thinks this is a good idea to comment, do it themselves, or blog / link to Kiva.org.

Update on Fri, February 16, 2007 at 5:31 PM by Jeff Barson

You can see Maddy's current Kiva portfolio here.

Comments

[5280angel]

Good for you and Maddy! I think it is a great idea to teach your daughter some valuable life lessons. Let her see what people can do with just a little bit of money. A few weeks ago I also started my own personal portfolio of Kiva loans, and I am excited to see how the whole process works.

So far all of my 10 loans are funded and 6 are dispersed to the borrowers. I really hope Kiva can generate some decent exposure because I think the concept of forming a portal for all of the microlending organizations throughout the world is excellent. Good luck to Maddy!

[Amy]

So has Maddy made her first loans? Be sure to follow up on this--I'm interested in how it all plays out.

[Jenna R]

I am in awe. This is a truly amazing lesson to teach your daughter. I think many parents forget that children need life lessons in all things, not only schooling, but also civic duties and how to be HUMAN to others who have dreams, but may not have the means to accomplish those dreams without our help. I am not a mother just yet, but I will be sure to remember this when I do have children. This is truly a great way of raising a great child. I commend you.