Hand in Hand joins forces with Kiva to fight poverty in Kenya

25 Nov 2014

Four Hand in Hand Self-Help Groups seeking loans via Kiva (clockwise from top-left): Ushrika Self-Help Group; King'atua Grazers Self-Help Group; Njokerio United Self-Help Group; Beera Agricultural Self-Help Group.

For 10 years and running, Hand in Hand has harnessed the skills of millions of would-be entrepreneurs to fight poverty with jobs. Kiva, established in 2005, have been connecting entrepreneurs with lenders for almost as long. So when Hand in Hand Eastern Africa teamed up with the crowdfunding pioneers to connect rural Kenyans to life-changing microloans, it’s no wonder our entrepreneurs were up to the task.

Mercy, 38, is one of them. Along with the rest of her Ushirika Self-Help Group, the mother of two is seeking US $575 to purchase stock for her growing clothing shop. The group has raised US $100 so far – just a fraction of the US $73,475 our entrepreneurs have raised from 550 lenders since July.

To meet more Hand in Hand entrepreneurs and find how you can lend, visit our page on the Kiva website.