The Inspiration

As I pondered what subject to pursue for my website, my mind settled on a concept I had been introduced to a few months before: microfinancing.

For inspiration, I looked to the well-established nonprofit organization known as Kiva. Kiva is in the vanguard of the microfinancing movement, and the general premise is something like this: individuals provide $25 loans to an aspiring third-world entrepreneur of their choice, the entrepreneur repays the loan, and the lenders ares free to invest the same money over and over again. A single donation can be “recycled” through a limitless number of people in need, raising their standard of living and providing them with an opportunity for a brighter future.

It’s an idea beautiful in its simplicity, and it doesn’t cost the lenders very much at all. That got me thinking: what if corporations did the same thing for their employees? Several hours and a lot of thinking later, I had the basic outlines of a plan. Over the course of these next few weeks, I intend to solidify this plan and share it with you.

About Me

My name is Sarah Blair, and I am a student at Boston University. As part of the University Honors College program, I am currently enrolled in a class called SM101 – The Secret Lives of Corporations. As our final assignment, class members have each created a webpage targeting a specific issue of social concern over corporate behavior.

For my project, I chose to create the blueprints of a nonprofit organization aimed at helping Mexican maquiladora employees to find a livelihood after leaving factory life. My webpage is still a work in progress, but I invite you to take a look around. Any thoughts, suggestions, or feedback is greatly appreciated!