A goat for Christmas

I was so excited to open my present from Nicole this year. For several years we have struggled to find a gift for each other, knowing that neither of us really needs anything. This year Nicole found the perfect gift for me: A goat. With Nicole's thoughtful gift, World Vision will provide a needy family with a goat, which will be used to "nourish[] a family with fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt, and can offer a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. It even provides fertilizer that can dramatically increase crop yields."


To return Nici's thoughtful gesture, I gave her a gift certificate to Kiva. Kiva is a website where readers can read about people who are trying to start small businesses in there country. For a small amount (as low as $25) the reader can loan the entrepreneur money to start the business to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Amazingly, there is a 99% rate of repayment. When the loan is repaid, the
lender can cash out or choose another business to lend to. It is just incredible to see how much such a small amount of money can change people's lives.