November 5, 2009

From Bend to Nicaragua, over three thousand miles,but that isn't stopping eighth graders at Seven Peaks School from reaching out.
Eighth grader Marley Forest says she's learning a lot from their international community service .

"There's other people in other countries who need our help and we can give it to them. It's more about community service and also small businesses and money and all of that," said Forest.

By using the website "Kiva-Loans Changing Lives" two math classes are loaning money while learning about the stock market. Each class selected someone striving for economic independence in Nicaragua to help reach a goal or start a business.
Loaning them $25, students then track their progress towards their business goal as they work to re-pay the interest free loan.

Bailey Well's class selected Deylin Picado, a woman looking to build a hardware store.
Instead of investing in large corporations the students invest in small business owners trying to escape poverty.

"So far she's made one payment back to us on her no interest loan and she's started filling her hardware store with products and stuff to sell," said Wells.

The students are among hundreds of other lenders from around the world. Once their investments are repaid they will pick a new recipient to help.

"They get a whole new business that's what I call sending money a long way," said Charlie Melville.