Retail Refugees

As Retail Refugees establishes itself around the world, we are pleased to announce our participation with Kiva. Kiva is a service that provides individual loans to entrepreneurs in third world countries around the world giving them a chance to provide for themselves, and their loved ones.

Because Retail Refugees focuses on bringing success to independent retailers around the world, it is important to keep in mind those who are entrepreneurial out of necessity. Through donations made through Kiva, Retail Refugees can contribute to the true emerging businesses.

Kiva Facts:

• Kiva is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated in November 2005.

• “Kiva” is a Swahili word which means “unity” or “agreement”.

• Kiva is the world’s first online micro-lending platform.

• PayPal provides Kiva with free payment processing. Kiva’s is the first account at PayPal with a free payment processing agreement.

• Currently, Kiva Lenders can only receive 0% interest on their loan. Kiva hopes to allow Field Partners to offer non-zero interest rates to Kiva Lenders soon.

• Total value of all loans made through Kiva: $41,167,010

• Number of Kiva Lenders: 331,372

• Number of loans that have been funded through Kiva: 57,965

• Percentage of Kiva loans which have been made to women entrepreneurs: 77.47%

• Number of countries Kiva Field Partners are located in: 42

• Current repayment rate (all partners): 98.48%

As a “team lender”, we invite all supporters of true independent retail around the world to join our Retail Refugee members and help contribute to this worthy cause and donate as little as $10 to our fund on kiva.org.