by Natascha | Oct 13, 2014 | Kiva, Philanthrophy
Are you looking for a creative, unique and giving-type of gift for this holiday season?
Maybe you want to send your clients something beyond a fruit basket?
Or looking to teach your kids about giving back, along with some geography, small business principles and/or understanding how different people live?
Meet Kiva! Microlending for people in developing countries, people who are working to help themselves out of poverty – to make their lives and their kids’ lives better.
I’ve been an enthusiast lender on Kiva.org for a while. (Click here to see the loans I’ve done.) I often do the loans along with my children, and they help me select which loans to fund.
It’s a thrill to know you are helping someone else, halfway around the world!
Here’s a great, short video to explain how Kiva works:
BTW, Kiva has Charity Navigator’s Highest Award.
If you do a loan on Kiva, or give a gift card – drop me a line and let me know!
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by Natascha | Jul 2, 2013 | Broomfield Children's Photography, Broomfield colorado Baby Photography, Broomfield Colorado Family Photography, Kiva, Philanthrophy
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, donate to and volunteer for some wonderful charities and development organizations!
See my Giving Back page for more information.
Please contact me if you are working with a local charity that would like pottery or photography donated for an upcoming fundraiser.
And if you have limited time and are looking for a wonderful organization to get involved with yourself, I propose Kiva.org.
They facilitate micro loans to women in developing countries who are working to improve the lives of themselves and their families, especially their children.
You can learn more about them here: http://www.kiva.org/lender/nataschalee
[caption id="attachment_2111" align="aligncenter" width="229"]
Photo courtesy of Kellie Coughlin Photography[/caption]
Baby, Children and Family Photography in Broomfield, Colorado
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by Natascha | Apr 9, 2012 | Broomfield colorado Baby Photography, Broomfield Colorado Family Photography, Kiva, Philanthrophy, Travel, Westminster, Westminster Colorado Baby Photography
5 Fun, Well-Known Facts About Me:
- I live halfway between Boulder and Denver, with my wonderful husband and amazing kids who bring me more joy than I ever thought possible.
- I love to give back and donate, and one of my favorite ways is microfinance through www.kiva.org
- I love soccer, yoga, dance, travel, and the ocean. My husband insists that “electronic gadgets” should be included in that list.
- English is not my first language. I am fluent in my third and fourth languages, mediocre in my second language and have completely forgotten my first. (My father was an inventor and we lived all over the world through much of my childhood.)
- As an artist/photographer, I adore that moment when people see a piece of art that they connect with, be it pottery, painting or photography.
Here’s a photo that combines several of my loves:
Traveling through Egypt, we stopped at a small cafe. The tables and chairs were rickety and old, the walls were peeling, and the air redolent with foreign perfumes and tobacco. And above us was this stunning light fixure. I first saw it reflected in my coffee cup:
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by Natascha | Mar 19, 2012 | Children, Kiva, Philanthrophy, Siblings
Kiva.org fan, joined them early on, and have now down over 100 loans to women in developing countries. Microfinance allows people to help themselves, investing in their own businesses and future. Their tag line is “Loans that Change Lives.”
Super smart philanthropist Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn & co-author of recently released The Startup of You, just donated $1,000,000 so that folks can try out Kiva.org for free. He will cover the cost of your first loan. They are hoping that, like most of us, you will so enjoy the experience of helping others help themselves that you will continue to loan.
Click here to do your first loan for free. But hurry, because these loans are “going” fast: http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/NataschaLee
Since I just can’t do a post without a photo, here are a couple of adorable kids I met in a small Mexican village:
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by Natascha | Nov 10, 2011 | Children, Community, Families, Girl, Guatemala, Kiva, Outdoors, Philanthrophy, Photography, Preschooler, Smiles
I love Kiva.Org! They use microfinance loans to help people in developing countries help themselves.
I had set a goal to make 100 loans by the end of the year, and I’m thrilled to say that I made it!
I even decided to “amplify” my impact by doing a photosession give-away for folks who made their first Kiva loan in August 2011. (Congrats to Sam & Andre who won.)
Here is a link to my loan porfolio, if you want to check out the 100 women I have loaned to over the last few years.
And, here is one to Kiva.org, should you feel like making a loan yourself!
Someone asked me how I got involved in microfinance to developing countries. Well, if you have read the “Giving Back” section of my website, you know that I actually grew up in developing countries like Jamaica and El Salvador. There, I saw the difference that a small helping hand can make to someone struggling with poverty.
I also had the good fortune to volunteer and work with Water For People. I traveled with them to Guatemala, and got to see first hand the kind of impact that empowering, accountable assistance can provide. This means loans and learning rather than handouts and charity.
And, because a photographer just can’t make a post without a few photos, here are some pix from my Guatemala trip:
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by Natascha | Sep 27, 2011 | Kiva, Philanthrophy, Photography, Uncategorized
Congratulations to Sam of Thornton, Colorado – Winner of our Family Photo Session.
Sam made her first Kiva loan, and was entered in Natascha Lee Studio’s “September Kiva 1st Loan” give-away. She won a free family photo session with a full set of digital files (priced at $645). I’m so excited to photograph her family including her Preschooler and her baby!
Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.
I have been active on Kiva for several years, and I am two loans away from my 100-loan goal. You can check out my loan portfolio here: http://www.kiva.org/lender/NataschaLee
You can make your own loans here: http://www.kiva.org/
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