Using Kiva.org in the Classroom

By Robert Clements

About Robert Clements

Robert Clements was recently the principal of Wickman Elementary School. In July 2011, his students received an award from the Rockefeller Foundation for their work with Kiva.

About Kiva.org

Kiva.org is a micro-financing site that allows people to lend small amounts of money—as little as $25—to fund projects across the globe. For school students, it can also illustrate lessons about finance, provide opportunities to meet people around the world, and make a difference to poor entrepreneurs in third-world countries.

Kiva.org and Service Learning

For any educator interested in incorporating service learning into his or her lesson plan, Kiva presents a marvelous opportunity. Children can learn about finance, lending, and fundraising, then loan small sums of real money to truly make a difference to others. In reviewing the profiles of entrepreneurs, children can get a sense of what life is like in different countries and cultures, and are inspired to do further research about different countries to determine where their money will best be spent.

Kiva.org and Wickman Elementary School

The fourth, fifth, and sixth graders of Wickman Elementary School in Chino Hills, California put these ideas into practice. Students work each year to choose Kiva entrepreneurs and projects to support, raise money, and lend micro-loans to people around the world. They then hold a Kiva Kids World Summit, meeting with people who represent the countries they’ve explored.