Introducing @KIVA-teamsteem

This is an introduction to the official STEEM account for Team Steem on KIVA.org. Raising awareness of KIVA and Team Steem, established by @stephen-somers founder of KIVA Team Steem.

So, What is KIVA?

We (KIVA) envision a financially inclusive world where all people hold the power to improve their lives.
More than 1.7 billion people around the world are unbanked and can’t access the financial services they need. Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 in San Francisco, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.
We do this by crowdfunding loans and unlocking capital for the underserved, improving the quality and cost of financial services, and addressing the underlying barriers to financial access around the world. Through Kiva's work, students can pay for tuition, women can start businesses, farmers are able to invest in equipment and families can afford needed emergency care.
By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, you can be part of the solution and make a real difference in someone’s life.
100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans.

Why was @kiva-teamsteem created?

The founder of Team Steem on KIVA, @stephen-somers was a KIVA lender long before he become a Steemian. Stephen became a KIVA lender in 2010 as he firmly believed that people in developing countries need "A Hand Up"...far more than "A Hand Out".

Joining Steemit in June 2016 he realised that the STEEM ecosystem has a powerful ability to not only share the KIVA concept with others but too actually assist in raising funds to put toward new KIVA loans not just through donations but via the inbuilt rewards system.

His first post supporting KIVA was made in December 2016 , Have you heard of KIVA? has been followed by many more updates which have assisted and motivated him to fund a number KIVA loans and has supported 10 loans since 2016.

Stephen also created a KIVA lending group KIVA Team Steem, which others can dedicate thier own KIVA loans to, One of the initial supporters of this initiative was @oleg326756 and along with other steemians this group has been responsible for many loans.

Now the reason that @kiva-teamsteem has been created is some people have suggested that, for the sake of transparency, these fundraising or charity type posts and loans/donations should be made in a separate STEEM account.

To prepare for this the existing KIVA loan repayments have not been reinvested under his own KIVA account but will be moved into the KIVA account Team Steem

How can you help?

1. Join KIVA to become a KIVA Lender and dedicate your loan to KIVA Team Steem
2. Follow @kiva-teamsteem
3. Send a STEEM / SBD donation to @kiva-teamsteem
4. Deligate some SP to @kiva-teamsteem
5. Upvote and ReSteem this post

The hope is, this account will bring many more people to think about the change they can make in the world, no matter their own background or financial situation.

The STEEM Ecosystem is built on a community of Generous, Creative, Talented and Passionate global citizens...

Lets put this STEEM power to good work