If you’re anything like me – and as a reader and fan of the Shellster and her blog (I love calling her that!) I suspect you are – you like to help people out. But your resources might be limited and, quite frankly, while there are so many worthy causes out there, how do you find one that you think is really making a difference? How do you engage in giving that is sustainable and makes an impact over the long haul?
Well, what if I told you that there’s a new, more sustainable model of giving that doesn’t include charity at all? In 2010, three young Indian entrepreneurs determined to fundamentally change the way people fund and impact communities created just that. Milaap (disclosure: my client), a unique platform that blends micro lending and crowd funding, was founded four years ago in order to help India’s working poor start their own businesses and break out of the cycle of poverty.
What I find unique about Milaap is that, unlike other fundraising platforms, Milaap blends micro lending with crowd funding, giving investors from around the world the ability to both lend and/or create personal fundraisers for India’s working poor. These micro loans – which start as low as $25 and are repaid in full at the end of the loan term – are a terrific way for people like you and me to help those who really deserve it. And since its founding, Milaap has had a 98% repayment rate, which I think you’ll agree is remarkable.
I was personally inspired by the heartfelt borrower stories for Milaap’s flagship campaign in 2014, The Hope Project, which aims to raise $100,000 in loans for former Devadasis. Pronounced “day-vuh-daah-see,” and meaning “servant of God,” these women are hereditary temple dancers often forced into prostitution and marked by societal stigma. Funded by The Hope Project, these women can now start their own businesses in areas as diverse as cattle rearing, tailoring, and heavy equipment maintenance.
These newly turned rural entrepreneurs —91% of whom are illiterate—are now self-reliant, supporting their families with a new lease on life. Check out the infographic on the impact Milaap has had on these women, mothers, children and families for generations to come.
Milaap is celebrating its fourth birthday today, June 16, 2014, by inviting change agents from around the world to join in a global, round-the –clock online conversation on sustainable giving. This promises to be a really interesting event, which you can join on a range of social networks by using and following the hashtag #Milaap4Hope. We’d love to see you there – look for @milaapdotorg and give ’em a shout!
I am thrilled that Shelly has joined with Milaap as a Champion of Hope, and so touched that she is using this wonderful platform to give a voice to people who could really use it. I hope today’s events will inspire you to learn a little more about the cause, share it with your networks, and participate in this unique opportunity to engage with folks around the world online during Milaap’s 24-hour digital takeover.
Let’s hear it for lasting change!
Milaap4Hope: When Giving Just a Little Changes a Whole Lot is a post from: V3 Kansas City Integrated Marketing and Social Media Agency
