Fundraising Status:closed
Risk Rating:
What to know about this Lending Partner
Impact Category:
Health
Default Rate:
0%
Currency Exchange Loss Rate:
0%
Total Loans Raised:
$3,950
Loans at Risk Rate:
0%
Kiva Borrowers:
18
Delinquency Rate:
0%
Interests and Fees:
30% APR
Partner description:
Living Goods is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to improve the lives of people in the developing world by creating a delivery system for life-saving, essential health products. They are headquartered in California with offices in Uganda and Kenya.
Living Goods creates and trains networks of micro-entrepreneurs who go door-to-door teaching families how to improve their health and wealth in developing countries. The entrepreneurs sell products like simple treatments for malaria and diarrhea, fortified foods, safe birthing kits, clean cook stoves and solar lights. As they work to improve the lives of their customers, Living Goods agents also significantly improve their own incomes, confidence and leadership in their communities.
A unique lending approach:
Living Goods loans posted on Kiva will be used by groups of borrowers to purchase consumer goods like clean cookstoves, water filters and solar products for distribution.
The borrowers then go door to door and educate their neighbors about the health and income benefits of the products. Cookstoves reduce the cost of wood and charcoal for a household, and reduce indoor air pollution. Solar products reduce the cost of kerosene and also reduce indoor air pollution. Water filters reduce incidence of diarrhea and other water-borne disease.
Living Goods entrepreneurs also provide other high-impact services such as pregnancy support, family planning and nutrition education to their neighbors.