Kiva is a microloans service bringing together loaners from all across the globe to work together to fund many borrowers and help alleviate poverty worldwide. Lenders can lend as little as $25 to help borrowers establish new businesses, fund a child's education or health care, improve a farmer's yield, or improve the living conditions of a family. Since you can loan as little or as much as you want, your overall risk is lessened by the input of all others who are supporting the same borrower. Kiva works with groups in 82 different countries, with a network of over 1.6 million lenders. Kiva loans have a historical repayment rate of about 97% (this number fluctuates slightly so check Kiva's homepage for the current rate). 

So, For more information about Kiva's operations, please visit their page, here.

In an effort to engage the global community, the SFU Bookstore is proud to donate 10% of the proceeds from the sales ethically-sourced gifts and supplies to prospective borrowers through Kiva. Since 2012, The SFU Bookstore has been a donating member of the SFU Lending Team, ranked 38th of all college and university lending teams, and the top lending school in Canada.

Kiva is different from traditional charities because you get to choose who to support, and your contribution is a loan, not a donation. 100% of your loans go to support borrowers. When you're repaid you can relend that same $25 again and again to multiply your impact.

Kiva gives you the chance to make small loans to people around the world who are working to start a business and improve their lives. I am a Kiva lender and thought you'd like to join me! Join SFU Bookstore on Kiva and change a life today!

To date, the SFU Bookstore Spirit Shop on it's own has deposited $1331+ over the last 8 years, and we have made over 200 loans for a total amount lent of $5,325. 10% of the proceeds from the sales of is directed to our Kiva lending fund