Tuesday 3 December 2013

Well, that's the kids' presents sorted...

I don't normally get organised for Christmas this early in Advent.

Indeed, to my children's' continuing horror, I never buy a tree until the very last minute, as I refuse to have it in the house, still less decorate it, before Christmas Eve (when we put the Carols  and Lessons from Kings on, as an indispensable part of the Christmas Eve ritual).

However, thanks in large part to Ttony, of the excellent Muniment Room blog, I have sorted their presents out already. (Kids, if any of you are reading this, look away now!)

We have decided to give them all a sum of money to invest in Kiva.  For those who are unfamiliar with it (as I was until Ttony pointed it out to me) Kiva is a micro-finance organisation, which supports people in the developing world by giving them small loans to turn their projects from dreams into reality.

I think the kids will enjoy choosing a project to support each, and following its progress, and eventually getting the loan sum back to invest in another project.

I also think it will help them to learn and remember some important truths.

I foresee this becoming their annual Christmas present: so they have much to thank Ttony for!

2 comments:

Part-time Pilgrim said...

If I understand it correctly this is a gift that keeps on giving because when they loans are repaid they choose who to lend the money to next. It's a great idea.

Ben Trovato said...

Yes, and I envisage doing this every year, so the cumulative effect will be each of the kids supporting several projects, reallocating periodically and so on. We will also pray for the recipients of the loans in our family prayers.