Sales rep helps entrepreneurs in developing countries

A sales rep at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty in White Rock, B.C. is helping entrepreneurs in developing countries. Alain Zaidel says a loan of even $25 can “give a tailor in Cambodia enough money to buy thread and fabric. It can help a farmer in Africa buy tools.” Recently, Zaidel created a team called Lend 25 Dollars on Kiva.org and built a website to promote it at www.lend25dollars.com. Kiva is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005 to link individual lenders with low-income entrepreneurs around the world. To date, more than 600,000 people have loaned over $120 million to people in 52 countries.

“To me it’s an incredible, wonderful thing,” says Zaidel. “It’s a loan, not a donation; one hundred per cent of your loan goes to the person you support. Sometimes, you get back your money in a few months, and then with the same $25 you can help another person or exercise the option of taking back your money. It’s a way to empower people who otherwise could never receive a loan and follow their dreams.”