Monday, May 7, 2012

This Mother's Day, give nurturers the tools to do the world's most important job


Who's behind the college graduate? The young entrepreneur? The dreams of the vulnerable? So many people around the world nurture others' potential -- supporting dreams as they become reality.

Mother's Day is this Sunday, so all month we're going to be honoring these nurturing forces by discussing how caretakers -- mothers in particular-- have an incredible ripple effect that builds brighter futures for their families, communities and the world.

It's incredible what people are able to do with limited resources, but imagine the potential power when nurture is coupled with financial resources, education and healthcare. Let's look at a few telling facts.

1) When a mother receives health education with microcredit, her children are 43% less likely to experience diarrheal disease, one of the most common causes of child death.
2) A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
3) When you give women the tools to support themselves, they reinvest the vast majority of their income in their families, giving the next generation a head start.

All month long, we'll be sharing blog posts from special guests that explore the idea of nurturing potential from various perspectives. Take a moment to think about the people who helped you realize your potential and honor them by giving a Kiva Card so that they can help a Kiva borrower do the same.

Spread the word about how Kiva gives people the opportunity to support mothers and other nurturers around the world with loans as small as $25. Share our Mother's Day video below and let us know how you're honoring the nurturers in your life this year at blog@kiva.org.

Happy Mother's Day, from Kiva!