300th (-1) Post Giveaway!

Tomorrow's "Talk Back Thursday" will actually be my 300th post, but I'm going to do the give-away in today's (299th) post. Surely no one will mind too much! ;)

I've decided to make it official - I will mark each multiple of 100 posts with a give-away of a $50 gift certificate to Kiva, a nonprofit organization that allows people to chip in small amounts of money to fund loans for people with small businesses in third world countries.

Personally, I have contributed towards 4 Kiva loans. All were to women who work as seamstresses or tailors. My first two loans have been repaid in full.

Here is Adjo Adimah from Togo:

And Berha Aurora Rios Chota from Peru:


25% of my third loan, to Mariza Gonzalez (Paraguay), has been repaid so far:


My 4th loan, to Firuza Samadova (Tajikistan), is newly let, and there have not been any repayments yet:


The way the give-away works is that the winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Kiva and will be able to review the loan requests and select the one to which she (or he) wishes to contribute. Once the loan is repaid, the winner may apply the funds towards another loan, OR remove the funds from the Kiva system and buy something special for her (or his) sewing. It will be completely up to you! :)


If you would like to be considered, just leave a comment. I'll leave the comments open for a week, and do a random drawing and announce the winner next Wednesday. Good luck! :)