I recall an episode of the popular TV show M*A*S*H in which BJ and Hawkeye were trying to get a US serviceman from taking advantage of the local Koreans…., the serviceman said something along the lines of “you guys can’t change the world?” in which Hawkeye responded “No, just our little corner of it.”

For a long time, I’ve looked back on that episode and asked how could I help others around the world? I was searching for a way to really help “change” someone’s life – not just rescue you them from a disaster, but have them become self sufficient.

(Ok, let’s stop for second… keep reading…. This isn’t about trying to get any of you to contribute; there is a real social marketing message around this.)

Well I found it… an organization called kiva.org. Basically Kiva.org is a micro lender which consolidates small amounts of money from many individuals into business loans to those in developing nations. We’re talking about loans in the $100 - $500 as near as I can tell.

The borrowers get the money after a business plan has been approved by a local lending representative. Then they make payments back to kiva.org and the money is “paid” back to those who lent the money. From there, you can take your money off the table or re-loan it to another person. You don’t get any interest with the loans, but the payback you receive is so much larger – the satisfaction knowing you were a small contributor to the betterment of someone’s life – allowing them the chance to start a business which will contribute to them making a living.

My two loans are currently about half paid back after only 3 months.

Now here is the social media point…What amazes me is not only the power of changing lives through the loans provided, but the “social” network kiva.org has created in the process. The members who participate are tied together by the power of helping others. I’ve even received comments from others talking about the progress of the individuals we’ve co-lent to, etc.

I have a Facebook page, Linkedin.com, etc. And those sites are tied together by people trying to connect or network to one another, kiva.org is a site that is based on an action – helping others, not on networking. This is profoundly differently and powerful.

If we as marketers could tie our customers together with a common action think of the possibilities,

Scott

Media marketing advertising emerging technology social media kiva kiva.org facebook linkedin micro lending HP Hewlett Packard Scott Berg