You Too Can Be a Banker to the Poor

I don't usually share publically which charitable organizations receive our financial support. However, but I would like to share my experience with one organization which can cost you $0 and yet allow you do a world of good.

KIVA is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. It was founded in October 2005 by Matt and Jessica Flannery and is run by a team with experience in microfinance and technology. The founders came up with the idea for KIVA, which means “unity” in Swahili, after spending time in East Africa.

Small loans to entrepreneurs are now widely recognized as an important tool against poverty. Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work with microfinance in Bangladesh.

Essentially, this is how KIVA works: Choose an entrepreneur, lend, get repaid.

1) Lenders view the profiles of entrepreneurs in need, and choose someone to lend to. When they lend, using PayPal or their credit cards, Kiva collects the funds and then passes them along to one of their microfinance partners worldwide.

2) Kiva's microfinance partners distribute the loan funds to the selected entrepreneur.

3) Over time, the entrepreneur repays their loan. Repayment and other updates are posted on Kiva and emailed to lenders who wish to receive them.

4) When lenders get their money back, they can re-lend to someone else in need, donate their funds to Kiva (to cover operational expenses), or withdraw their funds.

I chose a single mother in Peru who runs her own general store to support her son. Betti was described as a "determined woman and constant in what she does." The background descriptions of the various borrowers are fascinating.

My simple loan was paid on July 28th and she has already paid back 17%. With these funds I have already started to shop around for another borrower...its almost addictive. If you are interested in this concept you can obtain more information from their website: kiva.org.

Weekend in Ottawa - Park Omega

We spent the Labour Day Weekend in Ottawa visiting Grandma and Grandpa. We were blessed with quite nice weather and we made a day trip to Park Omega. This is a park where Canadian animals are able to roam freely. Visitors drive their cars through the park and feed the animals carrots.


A family of wild boar

There is a picnic area where you can eat and commune with deer (to the point where they become an annoyance).

Some areas are naturally fenced off due to the nature of the animals such as black bear, timber wolves etc..

We were treated to a show on birds of prey.

Peregrine Falcon

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

While we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Ottawa, we went to the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Over 50 balloons took to the sky in the early evening.

During the daytime we were treated to a parachute demonstration (press PLAY).



We were able to view the hot air balloons (and their crews) at close range. This balloon was from Belgium and was in the shape of Darth Vader. The crew were dressed up as Star Wars characters.

We saw a very entertaining Magician act en francais.

Then, we were treated to a wonderfully intimate acrobat show in a small tent. These buskers were truly enjoyable. Their performances were sensual and graceful.

Press PLAY to see this trapeze act.