Lakev Groceries

Awhile ago I introduced the organization KIVA microlending to Culture Kitchen. KIVA a microlending agency that connects small businesses with small investors like you and me. KIVA works with local partner organizations to find businesses around the world that look promising and want loans to expand. Loans can be a few hundred dollars all the way up to a couple of thousand dollars. Investors like me can put as little as $25 into the pot and KIVA combines these small amounts of money until the loan is filled. They then disburse the money through their partner organizations and keep track as the business pays back the loan. When the loan is paid back you can either take back your money (you get no interest) or you can reloan to another business.

I started loaning to businesses through KIVA over a year ago. And I have felt like my loans have really made a difference to families around the world. I want to share with you one of the amazing success stories I have been a part of and I hope that it will inspire you to participate in KIVA's efforts.

Lakev Groceries is a small shop in Eregi, Kenya owned by Petronilla Shivachi, nicknamed "Betty" by her customers. Eregi is in Southwestern Kenya near the Kakamega forest. This forest is the last virgin rainforest left in Kenya and is part of the Lake Victoria catchment basin. This whole area's environment is endangered because of the drying up of the African lakes region. I should add that any success story in Eastern Africa is also endangered by the drying up of the African lakes region and the East African environment. As an aside to this diary I should add that the East African environment and economy depends on preserving these lakes and forests. To this end I always recommend people join me in supporting environmental efforts like those in the Albertine Rift Valley area and in the Kenya itself. And, since these lakes are bordered also by Uganda, preserving the environment in Uganda can also help the entire region. Again, the entire success story I am about to describe could be ruined by the environmental degradation of the East African Lakes region.