Support a Mother for Mother's Day

Looking ahead to Mother's Day, I have some unusual gift ideas to suggest. If your family is like mine, we want to be together and celebrate milestones and holidays -- but we really don't need any more things. Therefore, I think it's a great idea to celebrate Mother's Day by investing in a mother in a developing nation who needs some help to provide for her family. 

The microfinance concept links people like you and I, who have some extra cash but don't consider ourselves rich, with those whose lives could be greatly enhanced by that modest amount of investment. Unlike aid programs that can foster ongoing dependency, microfinance efforts provide a way for people to put themselves to work. 

One of the leading organizations in this area is Kiva. Kiva's slogan is "loans that change lives." It connects people through the Internet to help alleviate poverty by providing small loans from one individual to another, so that small businesses can start and expand in developing nations. It has facilitated more than $100 million in loans to date, with a 98.57% repayment rate to date. Through Kiva, you can personally select a worker or small business owner to help in another nation. Your loan is administered through a local Kiva partner in that region. And you don't need a lot of cash to participate. I made a $25 loan to help a group of business people in Jinja, Uganda, because I've been there and shopped in some of their stores. As a small business owner myself, I'm strapped for cash. But not so badly that I can't forego a few meals out and invest in someone whose life can be more affected by this amount than mine would be.

World Vision is also doing something similar. For the last several years, I've sponsored a girl in Uganda through World Vision, but now the organization also coordinating microfinance loans. The loans you make, however, aren't to specific industries or regions, such as Kiva outlines. World Vision also offers the opportunity to give a gift in the name of someone else--items such as livestock (goats, chickens, ducks) or education, clean water, or clothing.

Compassion International has a program specifically aimed at maternal health, an issue close to my heart these days. Whenever I speak to groups of women, be it in conference settings or more informal meetings, I usually bring up the issue of fistula. This is a hole that develops in a woman's bladder or rectum as a result of obstructive labor or sexual assault. It is common in the developing world, but rare in the U.S. It's only rare because of our health care system for pregnant women. Fistula was an issue here until the 20th century. In fact, the Waldorf-Astoria hotel sits on the site of a former fistula hospital in Manhattan.

But back to Compassion. Their Child Survival Program provides pregnant mothers enrolled in the program access to a skilled birth attendant, a provision that saves many lives. In most communities, this involves helping the mother receive care at a local hospital or clinic (including transportation and health care costs). In some rural areas, a skilled birth attendant may provide a safe delivery at the home.

These are just some ideas to consider. But as we celebrate the women who have invested so much in us, I think it's a great idea to spread those blessings around!

Comments

[The Feminine Woman]

What an amazing post! Thanks Carolyn for such a great idea; I've never thought of it before.

best regards :)

[EM]

I'm interested in Kiva - do you give as part of a group? like Kiva Christians? I'd be interested in doing something like that so my gift is more clearly an outflow of my faith in Christ.