Mukaddas and her husband raise cattle in Tajikistan in order to provide for themselves and their four children. We're currently helping to provide an interest-free loan in order to make it possible for them to expand their business and provide a better life for their children.
You might be wondering how we got into the business of lending money for cattle farms in Tajikistan. Well, the answer is actually quite simple. We learned about Mukaddas (and others) through the microfinance non-profit organization, Kiva (www. kiva.org).
Kiva works with agencies around the world to provide zero-interest loans to businesses in developing countries. Basically, you deposit money with Kiva, choose someone to lend it to, and then wait for them to repay the loan. Once the loan is repaid, you can either (a) withdraw the money for your own use, (b) loan it to someone else, or (c) donate it to Kiva to help cover their operating expenses.
As with any loan, the borrower may default. You also do not earn any interest on your money. What you do get out of the deal is the opportunity to help someone, somewhere, improve their quality of life. From a Christian perspective, organizations like Kiva are a way for us to better love our neighbors...even the ones who live in Tajikistan.
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