Genealogists for Families

Last month in Australia I caught up with genealogist Judy Webster, who a few years ago set up an initiative called Genealogists for Families (http://genfamilies.blogspot.com), and I promised I would give it another plug!

Genealogists for Families is a worthwhile scheme which seeks to make loans of $25 to people in need around the world, which can be reclaimed once repaid or re-invested to help another person in need. The idea was based on Judy's father's idea of setting aside 'Do Good Money' and is gaining widespread support across the world's genealogical community. The initiative also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/173969336022998/. All loans opportunities are provided through the Kiva non-profit platform, and you can select who you wish to pay to and for what worthwhile opportunity.

By the way - you don't need to be a professional genealogist to sign up! All donations will be very welcome, and if you contribute I will love you all even more than I do already and will shout your names from the Scottish hills for all eternity to hear! :)

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Joan Miller passes away

Sad news today with the announcement that Canadian based genealogist Joan Miller has passed away after a year long battle with cancer. Joan had many hats on, but I knew of her through the Genealogists for Families initiative, which she helped to run in partnership with project originator Judy Webster. The project aims to help those in poorer parts of the world to finance small start up ventures via $25 loans to help improve their situations (see the KIVA tab at the top of this blog).

Judy has placed a message on the project's blog at http://genfamilies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/rest-in-peace-joan-miller.html which includes a request from Joan's daughter Heather to those who knew her to perhaps consider making a loan in her memory through the project.

Other tributes to Joan have been made online, including from CeCe Moore (www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2013/01/in-loving-memory-of-joan-miller-genetic.html) and John Reid (http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/joan-miller-rip.html).

Chris

Pre-order my new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, through Pen and Sword (30 April 2013), or purchase early at Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013 in London. For my other genealogy books, please visit  http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html; whilst for online Scottish based genealogy courses please visit the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd site.

Genealogists for Families - first anniversary

The Genealogists for Families initiative, initially set up in Australia but now with worldwide participation, is one year old today. The project is a micro-loan scheme run through Kiva which allows family historians to help people around the world with start-ups in various business ventures. So far 215 genealogists have participated, with over a thousand loans already made to the tune of some $28,500. I've made a few loans myself, and once they are repaid I re-loan the money to other start-ups. If interested in joining in - and you don't have to be a professional genealogist to do so! - please take a look at the page on this site entitled Kiva (see top menu bar), where all the relevant details can be found.

Happy Birthday Genealogists for Families! And do check out the project's own blog post at http://genfamilies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/year-1-genealogy-benefits-and-team.html

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Genealogists for Families milestone

The Genealogists for Families project participates in the Kiva programme to facilitate small loans to enable borrowers without access to traditional banks to expand their business, support and educate their family, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. The project has now reached a significant milestone, having loaned some $15,000 to 1000 individuals across the world in just 8 months. The idea is very simple, in that a small loan of $25 is made to a particular project, and when paid back it can be reinvested to a new project or simply retrieved again from your account, after it has helped to do some good in the world.

The project blog at http://genfamilies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/genealogists-for-families-milestone.html has a breakdown of the sorts of projects that have been helped, and further details on how to sign up - you'll also notice a tab at the top of this blog marked Kiva, which provides a brief summary on options on how to sign up. So far over 160 genealogists have signed up in the last 8 months, but you don't have to be a professional genealogist to participate - if you have $25 going spare, there's definitely someone in the poorer parts of world who can make use of it!

(With thanks to Judy Webster)

Chris

British GENES on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES and Twitter @chrismpaton

Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk and www.facebook.com/ScottishGenealogyResearch

Genealogists for Families - Kiva free trial

News from Judy Webster of Genealogists for Families (see link at top of this blog):

"Right now there is a 'free trial' offer that lets people join Kiva and make a $25 loan without it costing them anything. The founder of LinkedIn is currently sponsoring free $25 trial loans by new users. When I checked a moment ago there were still 9,000 free loans available. Details are on http://genfamilies.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/free-trial-new-kiva-users-get-free-25.html."

Genealogists for Families allows you to make small loans to businesses starting up around the world through the Kiva platform - when a loan is repaid you can claim the money back or reinvest to another worthy cause. Please do consider signing up!

(With thanks to Judy)

Chris

British GENES on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES and Twitter @chrismpaton

Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk and www.facebook.com/ScottishGenealogyResearch

Genealogists for Families update

The membership of the Genealogists for Families project has just passed the one hundred mark, whilst the number of loans made has just passed two hundred. In total some $5650 has already been made in small loans to borrowers around the world without access to traditional banks seeking to expand their businesses, support their families, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty.

For more information on the project, and to sign up, please visit http://genfamilies.blogspot.com.

A very worthwhile cause! :)

Chris