Kiva.org: Santos Morales Ramos

So far this month it has been slow on Kiva.org for new loan applications from Mexican entrepreneurs (that, or I'm not around often enough to catch them before they're funded). I finally found a new one to lend to, however, and this gentleman's application is probably the best I've seen yet.

The entrepreneur is Santos Morales Ramos, who manufactures iron doors for homes. This began as a side business while Santos worked in a factory, but he expanded it into a full-time occupation. The loan he is seeking is for the procurement of materials to make more doors.

The reason I jumped on this loan as soon as I saw it is that it is for manufacturing. Many of the Mexican entrepreneurs I have lent money to are in some sort of retail business where they act as middlemen for the products of others. While this certainly can be profitable, it doesn't necessarily generate new wealth. Manufacturing does, and I'm glad to be able to help fund some of it. The other reason I jumped at the chance to fund this loan is that Santos intends to pay it off in five months; I was looking for six month loans, so this one is even better.

So now I have funded 15 loans for a grand total of $375 using the $200 I have deposited to Kiva. If more short term loans such as this one appear, I'll be able to recycle repaid funds into new loans even faster than I do now.