Kiva

Together with a number Genies from around the world I am a member of the 'Genealogists for Families' Project on Kiva. 

We believe that our small deeds can make a big difference to families who are less fortunate.

Our motto is, 'We care about families (past, present and future)'

This morning I received a summary of my activity on Kiva for January to June 2024

My Kiva Activity 

I loaned some of that $US41.59  this morning to Ukashatu in Ghana.

Lending with Kiva is such a rewarding activity as one knows the identity of the borrowers and can see how the funds are being expended. I encourage you to join our team

Click here for details

Genealogists for Families.

You may have seen the Kiva tab on the top of my blog page but have you ever clicked on the link to see what it is all about?

I have been a member of The Genealogists for Families Team at Kiva for nearly 8 years and in that time I have made 188 microloans to people in third world countries. Genimates who have joined Kiva as a result of my invitations have made another 158 loans. It is so easy to make a difference.

This week I made two more loans. How about joining me in the team. Click here for details

Judy's coming to my neck of the woods

Judy Webster (photo Jill Ball)

I was excited to learn that Judy Webster, a generous and very experienced professional genealogist and geneablogger from Queensland will be speaking at The Lake Macquarie Family History Group next Saturday.

Judy is also the founder of Genealogists for Families, a Kiva Group, that has 364 members supporting families in third world countries. (Join the group via this link).

Although I can't find mention of this talk on the Lake Macquarie Group's website Judy has posted details on her website plus Facebook page and I read of the event in the Lake Macquarie FH Group newsletter.

Knowing that Judy doesn't cross the border to come south too often  (I last saw her at Congress2018) and that she is a speaker of renown I thought that I'd let my readers know of this opportunity to hear Judy speak on "Look Beyond the Border! Archival records with data for interstate and overseas folk.".

Visitors are welcome at Lake Macquarie FHG so, if you would like to hear Judy speak it would be an idea to let the people at The Lake Macquarie Family History Group know that you are coming.

It's that time of the month...

....when I thank my lucky stars for the life that I lead and make a small contribution to the lives of families in other parts of the world.

As a member of the 'Genealogists for Families' Project on Kiva I just made two loans to borrowers in third world countries: one to a lady in Haiti and one to a lady on India.

'Genealogists for Families' members who come from all around the world believe that our small deeds can make a big difference to families who are less fortunate.

Our motto is, 'We care about families (past, present and future)'.

Everyone is welcome on our team - genealogists and non-genealogists alike. Please join us!

Click here for further details

The First Hundred

I was thrilled to see on my Kiva profile today that the two loans I made today brought the total of loans I have made to 100. For an outlay of just $520, added in dribs and drabs, in my account I have been able to lend $2,500 to entrepreneurs in third world countries.

In addition people I have invited to join Kiva have made 68 further loans. 

How about joining our team?

'Genealogists for Families' Project on Kiva. 

Everyone is welcome on our team - genealogists and non-genealogists alike. Please join us!

Click here to join

Kivaversary

I often drag the chain so when Judy Webster set up  the Genealogists for Families Group on Kiva on 27th September 2014 it took me a couple of weeks to sign up. I was reminded of my impending Kivaversary in a post from my blogging mate Pauleen who was quicker off the mark to join the group. Today it is three years since I joined the team.

In that time the 295 other genealogists (and friends) from all around the world who have joined our team have lent $US122,000 through 4,608 loans. They have made a difference to so many lives. You can see the loans I have made here: http://www.kiva.org/lender/jill4772

I love lending through Kiva because:

• I can choose where my money goes
• I can dedicate loans to friends and family
• I get to know about the people I loan to through reading their profiles and seeing their photos
• All of each $25 I loan goes straight to the borrower (I add a little to each loan for admin funds)
• I learn about real people in other countries and the problems they face 
• I prefer to lend than to give. As I can reinvest my funds when they are repaid I feel that my charity dollars work very hard and return great results for the borrowers and for me as a lender.
• I get a real buzz from helping other people and families.
• I enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow team members.

I note that the number of new members joining the Genealogists for Families Group on Kiva has slowed to a trickle this year, it would be great if our ranks could grow so that we could do even more good.

For the price of just five cups of coffee you could make a loan that may change a life. Here is your  invitation to join our team.

Just what is Kiva?

You may have noticed the Kiva page on the menu bar of this blog and wondered about it. It is hard to explain what Kiva does in just a few words, this  new video from Kiva gives a clear explanation of the project.

Together with a few hundred genealogists from around the world I am a member of The Genealogists for Families team on Kiva, We loan because...we care about families (past, present and future).

For the cost of half a dozen cups of coffee you can make your first Kiva loan.

Your invitation to join our team is here. 

Today is International Literacy Day

You can read all about  International Literacy Day on the UNESCO website.

Those of us who are involved in family history research possess reasonable levels of literacy that enable us to hunt down our ancestors. There are many people who because they do not have our levels of literacy would never be able to get involved in genealogy.

The theme for  International Literacy Day is Literacy and Sustainable Development. 

The website explains "Literacy is one of the key elements needed to promote sustainable development, as it empowers people so that they can make the right decisions in the areas of economic growth, social development and environmental integration. Literacy is a basis for lifelong learning and plays a crucial foundational role in the creation of sustainable, prosperous and peaceful societies"

Reading this made me think how I, as a genealogist, could help on this day. The answer came to me within seconds, as a member of the Genealogists for Families Group I could make a Kiva Loan to a person in a third world country that might go towards helping them improve their literacy.

I logged into Kiva, topped up my funds to $US25 so I had enough for a new loan and sought out an appropriate person. I am hoping my new loan will help Lileth in Beirut"who left her hometown in an attempt to improve the poor living conditions of her family there and to provide her daughter with a better life and education. She requested a loan, which she will use to pay for her daughter’s increasing school tuition fees." 

How are you marking International Literacy Day? 

You could join me on Kiva and make a loan. Together we can make a difference.

A Cow in Pakistan

Whenever I give a talk on Geneablogging I include a screenshot of the Genealogists for Families blog which shares news from the Kiva "Genealogists for Families" group through which Genealogists work as a team to help families in low income areas by making microloans of $US25.

Yesterday I received this note from a lady who attended my last talk:

Great to catch up with you at the Central Coast Family History meeting. You and blogs are still being talked about! Thank you for giving us so much to think about.

I have taken your advice about Kiva and I am contributing to a cow for a woman in Pakistan. For years I have "fed the homeless" but the friend who organised the meals has now retired so I am pleased to find a new commitment.  The process of a number of donors making a small  contribution suits my philosophy!

I got such a buzz from this note as my aim in highlighting the Genealogists for Families blog is to encourage other genealogists to support this charity. You can join the 269 genealogists who have made loans (yes loans - your money gets repaid then you can reinvest it) of over $US60,000 in under two years. All you have to do to sign up is FOLLOW THIS LINK

If you can go without just 6 cups of coffee or one paperback book you would have $25 to join our group and make a difference. 

My Mate Joan

Early this morning I heard some sad news. My friend, Canadian genealogist Joan Miller, passed away peacefully on Friday 4th January, 2012.

I had hooked up with Joan on the internet a few years ago and we finally got to meet at Rootstech in 2011. From that meeting grew the idea of putting together a panel presentation for Rootstech in 2012. Joan worked on this with myself, Amy Coffin and Audrey Collins until just after Christmas 2011 when she wrote "I've been having health issues and there is a good chance I won't be able to attend Rootstech."

Joan (left) and Jill Ball (right) interview Jay Verkler at Rootstech 2011

Today I am remembering Joan and being grateful for her friendship, support and encouragement. 

Among other things Joan was passionate about the Genealogists for Families Team on Kiva where she was co-captain with Australian, Judy Webster. 

A number of genealogists have asked on various social media today how they can commemorate Joan. Joan's daughter Heather has asked that commemorative loans or donations in memory of her mother should be made through Kiva and the 'Genealogists for Families' project.  Details on how this can be accomplished can be found on this Genfamilies blog post.

I chose to make a loan to a farmer in Kenya to help him to buy piglets as Joan had recently made a loan to another farmer to allow him to buy pigs.

Family History Through the Alphabet – K is for …reaching out

Kiva Genealogists for Families team members come from many countries including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Spain and the United States. Our team motto is "we care about families (past, present and future)."

On our team blog http://genfamilies.blogspot.com.au/ that is maintained by team founder and leader, Judy Webster, you can read all about the project and its history. There you will also find some biographies of team members. Please take some time to read these and discover why genealogists have joined our group.

Kindness of team members has resulted in over $20,000 dollars of loans being made to members of families in third world countries.

Team impact as at 21/7/2012

The benefits of participating in the Kiva project cannot be underestimated. I have met a whole new group of genealogists via the Kiva project, our team spirit is buoyed as we read about the loans other members make and hear of how they raise funds to commit to Kiva loans. There can be unexpected benefits as Dianne indicates in her Facebook post:

Kudos to our leader, Judy, who is the lynchpin that ensures the success of our team.

This is a post about technology. It demonstrates how social networking can be harnessed for good, team members have used Facebook, Blogger and the social functions of the Kiva site to reach out to others.

If you can rustle up $US25 please follow this link and join the Genealogists for Families team on Kiva . 

Congress - Genealogists for Families Dinner

Thanks to Kerry Farmer and Judy Webster for organising a dinner for those who support the 'Genealogists for Families' team with microloans through Kiva.  We gathered tonight at The Strathmore Hotel across the road from the Convention Centre.

I was especially thrilled to meet Sharn White and Kylie Willison (geneabloggers) whom I had not previously met in person.  We all tossed our small change into a cup passed around by Judy and raised $57 - enough for two new loans with a bit left over.

Thanks to Mr Geniaus for taking lots of photos on lots of cameras.

The Genealogists for Families Group

Judy Webster, Kerry Farmer, Alona Tester, Helen V Smith

Cassie Mercer (Inside History), Sharn White

Money raised for two Kiva new loans

Kylie Willison, Jill Ball

Linley Hooper, Jan Gow, Heather Garnsey

What is a Kiva loan?

"We care about families (past, present and future)" 

You have probably heard genealogists mention Kiva on various social media platforms and exhort you to join up.  This little video tells the story of a  Kiva  loan and may demystify  Kiva  for you.

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions,  Kiva  lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. 

There are more than 150 genealogists from all over the world who are members of The Genealogists for Families Kiva team set up by Australian genealogist and blogger, Judy Webster.


At the moment Free Trials (financed by a philanthropist) are available to new Kiva members. You can join up to make a difference by clicking this link. Please seriously consider making a loan and joining The Genealogists for Families team - "We care about families (past, present and future)"

In Australia Genealogists for Families team members have arranged face to face meetings. Two such get togethers are planned for The 13^th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry to be held in Adelaide later this month. 


If you are Adelaide bound how about joining Kiva and meeting up in Adelaaide.

Giving liberates the soul of the giver

I have found that among its other benefits,
giving liberates the soul of the giver.

-Maya Angelou

I saw this quote today on a blog post, The Most Important “Law” of Social Media,  from Eric Harr on Social Media Today. 

Finding this was serendipitous as today my profile was published on the Genealogists for Families Blog.

Members of Genealogists for Families through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, make $25 loans that enable borrowers without access to traditional banks to expand their businesses, support their families, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. When the loan is repaid we can withdraw the money or lend it again. If we repeatedly lend the same $25, that small sum makes a big difference to many lives.

Reaching out and helping families in other lands helps others but also gives me a warm inner glow.  I have the power to make a difference to a strangers life, exercising that power is a rewarding experience.

How about joining me in the Genealogists for Families project?

Thanksgiving Thoughts

As my Genimates in the US gather with their loved ones in warm homes and get ready to tuck into huge feasts of scrumptious food they will give thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon them.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you enjoy your time together.

Perhaps at this time you could spare a thought for those families around the world who do not share such bounty. If you and your family could gather $25 between you it could help a family in need. Take a look at the Genealogists for Families Project and see how you can Make a Difference this Thanksgiving.

The Genealogists for Families Kiva project is a group of genealogists that care about families (past, present and future). Non-genealogists are welcome to join our team. We believe that small loans can make a big difference.

Help!

Have you noticed the Help! tab on this blog?

It contains a personal invitation to you, my dear readers. I think that most of you who read this blog live in fairly comfortable circumstances and could spare a little to help others who are not so fortunate.

As the season of giving approaches  please take a look at my invitation and and see how you can join over 80 other genealogists who are helping families from around the world.

It's taken me a while

Genealogist, Judy Webster in Australia, set up the Genealogists for Families Project through Kiva. Joining up has been on my 'to do' list, I feel bad that it has taken me taken me four weeks to get my act together and get behind this worthy cause. This afternoon while babysitting (I do a lot of that) I was reflecting on how fortunate I and my family are to live in the 'Lucky Country' and my thoughts turned to Kiva and those who are less fortunate.

Today I finally joined the group that so far has 24 members from  Australia, Canada, England, Scotland and the US. As of today the group has made 35 loans of $US25 to people in countries that include Bolivia, Mongolia, Palestine and Zimbabwe.

For about the cost of one birth, death or marriage certificate you could also help families in other countries wit a loan.

Click here to join

From the Genealogists for Families blog:

"We care about families (past, present and future)

Genealogists worldwide, plus family and friends, are working as a team to help families and small businesses in low income areas. Through Kiva, a nonprofit organisation, we make $25 loans that enable borrowers to expand their businesses, support their families and raise themselves out of poverty. When the loan is repaid, the lender can withdraw the money or lend it again."

On this blog you will find answers to any of the questions you may have about the project.