Helping Women Entrepreneurs with Kiva

 http://www.kiva.org/ is a non profit organization that empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. Up to date kiva lenders have facilitated over $129 million in loans.

I love kiva. I became a Kiva lender 1 ½ years ago. I have found a great deal of enjoyment from helping empower low-income entrepreneurs all over the world. Kiva allows people like myself to lend $25 at a time. By joining with other Kiva lenders the needed funds are pooled to grant wonderful opportunities to third world entrepreneurs. The most inspiring aspect of Kiva is that it is not charity. It is a business loan to a motivated, hard working person who wants to better their life. This not only offers financial help but dignity and inspiration to the business person in need.

I love the fact that when your loan is paid back you can re-loan it to someone else and it just keeps rotating. Of course, you can always remove your funds if you desire. The money was not donated.

There is a risk that your loan may not be returned. Conditions in some countries are so dire that some business people may not be able to pay you back. In Kiva experience all my loans have been paid back. What I find crazy is that if a loan was defaulted on, it is $25. I can affort to risk that. What does $25 buy us here? Certainly not an opportunity to better our lives, however, the enjoyment I get from lending that $25 is worth far more.

The loan amounts vary and the higher the loan the more kiva lenders it takes to fulfill the amount.

Kiva was started by a film crew who were on location in a tpoor country. They were struck with the thought that small amounts of money can make huge changes in peoples lives.

I have been fortunate to have been given support and encouragement throughout my career. By participating in Kiva, I can pass that on to business people who really need it.

I choose to loan to women who mostly work in fashion, as I do. Meet a couple of my favorite entrepreneurs.

Jeanne Chantal Lokou is 42 years old, married and mother of two children. She lives in Lomé, a town located 120 kilometers from Kpalimé. She has been working as a seamstress for the past ten years. With Kiva’s loan, she wishes to buy an additional sewing machine to ensure her work is done quickly. With her foreseen profit, Jeanne wants to help her husband finance their children’s education.
Loan amount $1,050.

 
 
 

Teofila is the mother of a very loving family. She is 43 years old and lives in her own house with her only son, Elvis, who is 9 years old, and what she wants most is to give him a good education.
In the village of Jasana Capallino you can find Teofila's business. She raises cattle, which is a trade that she learned from her parents who always made sure she knew how to support herself. She sells her cattle at the Huancane fair, where they are in high demand because of how well they are cared for and fed.

What she likes best about her job is to let the animals graze, as she enjoys the outdoors. With 20 years in this trade, she believes that the most difficult part is to deliver her cattle to the Sunday fairs where they sell. For the future of her business, she hopes to increase the quantity of her stock so that can increase her earnings. Loan amount $700.

Okay, Teofila is not involved in fashion but I adore her hat. I have started a Kiva group, think about joining me in becoming a Kiva lender. It really does your heart good!

http://www.kiva.org/team/creative_growth_network

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Owner/Designer & Fashion Consultant
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Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Panties, Plus Size Shapewear, & More

Top 5 Reasons to Wear Gorgeous Panties

I am sure you have all heard, “ Don’t leave the house unless you have nice underwear on because you may be hit by a bus and sent to the hospital.” Crazy as that sounds there are times when your underwear will make a surprise appearance. You might want to follow the old advice, just in case....

1. Your husband might attend his weekly Tae Kwan Do class as usual. He might do a particularity high kick and he might be embarrassed to see a beautiful bright red lace thong gracefully fly out of his pant leg and fall among the sea of white uniforms. The Grand Master may stare in horror then pretend he did not notice and continue class as usual. The moral of this story is - don’t mix your colors on laundry day.   
2.  You might be stopped by the police for speeding and taken to the police station for past unpaid speeding tickets. You might then be strip searched and not be wearing underwear because you were too busy to get your laundry done that week so you thought, “no one will notice” and just went without.   
3. You might go to Disneyland and have a fantastic time with your husband and child. You might go on a Wild Water Ride and get soaking wet. It might not be until you get off the ride that you find out your new white shorts become completely see-through when wet.                                       
4.  You might have the worst case happen and be hit by a car. You may be lying on the road watching the Paramedics running towards you. You might know you have broken something yet, being the fashionista that you are, the only thing running through your mind and causing sheer panic within you is “Did I wear my new underwear or the old ones I was going to throw away!"                                                                                                                        
5. You might simply wear beautiful underwear because it makes you feel like a woman!

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Owner/Designer & Fashion Consultant
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Read and follow my blog http://www.plussizebrasandpanties.blogspot.com/
Brenda@PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
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Plus Size Corsets for Prom

The school year is in it’s final stages and young women everywhere are shopping for the perfect gown. This is such a special time and should be the best event possible.

When helping your grad shop for the chosen gown the undergarments are extremely important.

Very often the gowns are strapless making a bra impossible to wear. This is when the girls look at strapless bras. Although the necklines are great with a strapless bra they do not offer any additional support.

This is when a corset becomes an option. Corsets are so retro and cute. They are old fashioned and quite special to wear. A corset offers several features to consider. The corset supports the body from the bust right down over the tummy. A true corset has NO stretch at all. For this reason it is possible to slim the body and reduce easily up to 2-3 inches. This will make a huge difference in the silhouette. The large busted girls will end up with the “cup runneth over” look. If this is not desired a bra can be worn with the corset to confine the top of the breasts. A regular or strapless bra will work depending on the neckline of the gown. This will give added support and shaping.

My favorite side effect of the corset is beautiful posture! There is no other choice except to stand up straight. The corset will not bend. A good tip when dressing is to put stockings and shoes on first, then the corset.

When planning to wear a corset some practice is advised. The corset should be worn at home to get used to the feel. At first wear the corset just at body size. It will feel restrictive, which most are not used to. It will also feel difficult to breathe. As the corset is worn a couple of times it will be possible to wear it a bit tighter each time. I would not recommend going to far on the tightening. Make sure your grad will be able dance, pose for pictures and eat in comfort.

Corsets come in cottons and satins for shiny and matt finishes. The size range is up to size 56 for a 46" waist.

Another corset choice is a modified corset made of softer fabrics with a slight stretch for comfort. These also give a mild support over the tummy. This style is easier to wear and does not require any practice however does not support as strongly either.

Whatever your choice - Happy Graduation!

If you have any tips you’d like to share or comments please post them below.

Brenda

Owner/Designer & Fashion Consultant

http://www.plussizebrasandpanties.com/
Read and Follow my blog at http://www.plussizebrasandpanties.blogspot.com/
Brenda@PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Panties, Plus Size Shapewear, & More