The alternative to 'fairtrade'

[Lucy]

www.kiva.org

Go here, provide microcredit, it will make you feel good, I promise

No governments, no aid agencies making money out of it, and it's not aid, it's a loan to people with hope.

[Diver]

So! how do I go about applying for one of these loans?

[shelby68]

So! how do I go about applying for one of these loans?

Seconded, I need a loan to buy new Mecredes...sorry cow.

[Bumfluff]

How do you know they are not scammers ?

[scooterscot]

Yes sounds great I get out my wallet right now if I thought it was going straight to those that need it, but what's the proof?

[Sockpuppet]

I like the fact that basically Kiva will be taking a cut of the repayments and giving you back your money 1-for-1.

So they are using you as a form of free credit.

Nice.

[BoredBloke]

"The alternative to 'fairtrade'"

I read that thinking the opposite of fair trade. I was expecting a site promoting the use of child labour and tiny tiny wages.

[TheFaQQer]

No, it's not an alternative to fairtrade at all.

Fairtrade sells you something, the profits from which are shared with the producers to help lift them out of poverty.

Kiva is an interest free loan that you are providing to the third world, to help lift them out of poverty. You can get your money back later though, but you get nothing from it.

Kiva is an alternative to SharedInterest that charges 21% to the third world but returns 0% to you. The difference is that SharedInterest can pay you interest on your investment too.

Neither Kiva nor SharedInterest are alternatives to Fairtrade.

[TheFaQQer]

I like the fact that basically Kiva will be taking a cut of the repayments and giving you back your money 1-for-1.

So they are using you as a form of free credit.

Nice.

It's called charity.

HTH

[scooterscot]

Kiva is an interest free loan that you are providing to the third world,

developing world