Contributed by Alana Elsner
The Glass Hammer has published several pieces in the past on how women in finance can get involved in charitable enterprises that put their skills to work helping women in need. In this article, a new contributor to The Glass Hammer highlights her experience with socially responsible investing.
Ever wondered what happens to your money when you invest in a “green” fund? In addition to posting strong returns, the goal of socially responsible investing is to make a difference in the world. But how can you see the tangible results of your investment? This question snuck up on me one cold January night. With the holiday season passed and my New Year’s resolutions already broken, I decided now was the time to take an active role in making the world a better place. This is the story of my journey down the rabbit hole of microfinance. This is the story of how I help catch fish in Uganda.
I asked myself, how was I to start saving the world? My typical ten hour work day, plus occasional weekends, left me with little time to spare. Then one evening I caught a news report about Kiva.org, a website linking poor borrowers with U.S. lenders. In the era of billionaire philanthropy, my $25 realized its full potential as I became a Kiva lender. With a few swift clicks of my mouse, I teamed up with Sara from San Francisco, Bobbi from Atlanta, and 44 other lenders to raise funds for Gertrude, a 44 year old mother of nine. From the moment I went to the website, Gertrude’s picture and story fascinated me. As a fishmonger, Gertrude’s fish stock and profits help support her family. But now she is ready to become one of the few female entrepreneurs in Uganda. Gertrude plans to use my $25 to multiply her fish stocks. Once her profits increase, she hopes to open up a clothing business. I was surprised, but I also admired this woman, continents away, who had not one but two business plans. After seeing Gertrude and hearing her story, how could I not help?
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This new series of articles, called “Passions,” is not a cheesy soap opera on day-time television. Rather, it explores what young successful professional women do when they are not working, and sheds some light on the hobbies and interests that they are passionate about.