I hope you're all having a great time with your family and friends today (and tomorrow, for some people). While you're still enjoying that warm and fuzzy feeling, I'd like you to take a look at the BlenderNation team on Kiva. We're helping less fortunate people by providing them with micro-credits. To date, 34 people have lend out a total of $4,475. I'd love to be able to add a zero to that next year ;-)
Read more about how to join us in our previous announcement. Thanks!!
13 Comments
I have heard of these micro-loans before and the great things people have benefited from receiving them. This is great that BlenderNation participates in this form of financial aid!
I won't donate my loot for ya!
I hope thats a joke.
Microfinance of poor people? So far as i know microfinance is usually for women. Men or husbands are put into an dependency to the women. Based on those myths that women invest the money better while men invest it only into drinking, brothels, gambling and so on.
I'm a Blender user and frequently check the news on Blendernation but although i'm a bit active in the men's right movement. Where i had learned that i should look for what I spend my money. Sorry.
[edit] On a quick view I would say that the previous fundraising:
http://www.blendernation.com/blendernation-birthday-present-a-whole-school/
sounds better. Because I think girls AND boys can profit from a new school.
I've actually been meaning to look into this, but I completely forgot. Just joined and lent out my first $25,- =)
I'm responsible for $100 of those $4,475 :)
But, if you add a zero, then you'll just donate the same amount!
Don't you mean, you wish to donate ten times more next year? ;)
Registered, part of the BlenderNation team, and lent 25$!
@Goofos: take a look at the Kiva site and you'll see that you can support both men AND women.
@Senshi, Simon, Piichan: thanks!!
@Tynach: if you 'add zero', then yes. However, I wrote 'add *a* zero' ;-). So $44,750! Let's go! :)
Kiva is an amazing service and I already have loans out. My pastor at church encouraged us all to give through them. I'll see if I can figure out how to join your team. I'm glad to see BlenderNation helping to spread the word.
I have learned about KIVA last year by means of Blendernation.
It has been a great and rewarding experience to partecipate in the effort to help people to get on their feet and run by their own means. 25 $ are very little in Europe and a lot in those country and they do make a difference.
As for other people objections:
Kiva lets you control where, to whom and why you lend (or donate) the money.
And as for the "sex-battle" thing: you may decide tyo lend to men, to women, to both and to families...
We receive a lot for free from the Blender community at large. To give something back is the least we could do.
C'mon Blender people! Lend! Donate!
It is good to see that this Blendercommunity takes responsibility for those who are less wealthy born as the few in for instance Western Europe and the United States.
I have been funding for this kind of credit for over 10 years via http://www.oikocredit.org/site/nl/
But it will be a long time before we may say there are to many of these initiatives.
Go on.
Thank you for this article, it's great to be a member of a team of people who care about others. Let the open source spirit of supporting each other overflow the borders of Blender boroughs.
Nice holidays to all.