Hello everyone, I created a group called MvukeUnity on Steam that is committed to giving away a whole lot of games to people if they sign up on Kiva.org and join the MvukeUnity Kiva team.

By signing up, you are given a free bonus of $25 to lend to people in third world countries that need help. This is risk free, as all you need to do is sign up through the MvukeUnity team recruitment link. Anonymous and pseudonyms are also allowed. And you do not need to spend any money, as this bonus is for any new member that joins through the link.

By doing this, you are then allowed entery into the MvukeUnity Steam group that posts giveaways all the time. Like a lot of games are given away in this group, and not just by me.

Once you join Kiva through the link above, message me your Steam profile and you Kiva portfolio on the MvukeUnity Kiva team page, and I will then invite you into the group.

I have a large stockpile of games to giveaway on my Steam profile inventory, as well as many more keys to games (such as borderlands GOTY, bioshock 1&2, spec ops: the line, the darkness 2, and more) on my amazon game inventory. I also have a very large stockpile of bundle game keys too. All of these games are designated for the MvukeUnity Steam group. Giveaways posted already in the past week:
Portal 2, Mad Riders, Mount & Blade Collection, Virtual Tennis 4, Spec Ops: The Line, Crusader Kings II, Mirror's Edge, Alien Hallway, Just Cause.

Membership to the MvukeUnity Steam group is already up to 80 or so people. And thanks to these initial members, the MvukeUnity Kiva team has facilitated over $4000 in new loans to people who need it. An amazing amount considering that the team went "live" only days ago.

(http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/mvukeunity/by/stephen3443)

(http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/mvukeunity/by/stephen3443)

UPDATE: All new users to Kiva.org who sign up through the Kiva.org team page link above will get a free $25 to lend on the site as a bonus. This is all that is necessary to be admitted into the group, just make sure it is through the MvukeUnity Kiva.org team so that it can be tracked and verified.

NEWER UPDATE: In order to streamline the process and help with verifying whether people loaned or not, please post your Steam profile and Kiva portfolio on the MvukeUnity Kiva team page. The link to the team page is below. Thank you. It makes it even easier if you post here too. But that is superfluous.

This was all created on paper, and so there is bound to be some hiccups, so that's why I am posting on the forums. To gauge interest and also to hear from everyone. Something sound wrong or is all good?

More info here: Blogger Info Blog . And here: Kiva Team HQ . And here: Steam Group .

If you have anymore questions, just let me know. I hope this whole idea works.
Cheers,
Bardsley

12 years ago*

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tl;dr - pay 25$ get into a giveaway group?

-I did read it all, but I think that's the bottom line

12 years ago
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He said people get their money back

12 years ago
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You'll see the money back,

I read that as you see the money back as winning games, would like clarification though

12 years ago
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I checked the wiki page, basically, you loan $25 to a random person, and you get the money back when that person gives them back. Check the first link in the op.

12 years ago
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Okay... and what if this person never pays you back? How trustable is this Kiva site?

12 years ago
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You make no interest on Kiva loans. In fact most loans are not protected against currency depreciation (i.e. you could have a bit less paid back to you than what you lent) and most are not protected against default. Kiva members charitably take that chance in order to help low income people, mostly in third world countries, secure loans to start or improve their small businesses.

Not only do you not make interest, and do take the chance of losing money, but on top of that Kiva itself asks for an optional donation of about 10% additional to help them pay office expenses of their non-profit office in California (the donation for office expenses is tax deductible and not returned).

12 years ago
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Yeah, I have no idea how the group will look far into the future, and so I said that I guess as a disclaimer.

12 years ago
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Thank you for your help explaining. Yes, like all things one does with money, there are risks involved. Even when putting your money under your mattress (fire, robbery, etc.). Due diligence must be preformed by anyone contemplating a loan on Kiva.org, and naturally, some people and causes will have a higher rick than others. And while Kiva.org does not pay interest on the loans it facilitates, one could make the case that the games given away would be the interest. And while they are giveaways, and it is therefor uncertain that you would win, if one does, the value of the game won would far exceed the amount that would be paid to you on the principle based on the interest rate from any reputable bank.

12 years ago
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The rate of return, or the amount of return, for the money lent on Kiva.org does not have any bearing on the game up for winning. The initial loan will continue to reap giveaways, even after the money has been paid in full.

12 years ago
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So basically in the end you break even. Hopefully.

12 years ago
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Yup, that's what I see. The website never says when you get the $25 back. Also
"Those who lend more than the initial $25 through the MvukeUnity team will be moved into groups with better odds (the system for people who lend more through the Kiva team is a work in progress, and I will rely on the community to help come up with a system that makes sense)."
LOL

12 years ago
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Lend $25 on kiva, get into the group. "Pay $25" is an incorrect statement, as what the $25 is doing does not fulfill the definition for the word pay.

12 years ago
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I found out that any new member to Kiva.org gets a bonus $25 to lend to whomever or whatever they want. That bonus is all that is necessary to become admitted to the group. For a new Kiva member, it amounts to free admittance into MvukeUnity. Just thought I'd post that update.

12 years ago
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inviteme pls

12 years ago
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If Kiva is that legit, with the success rate that the site advertises (98.97% repayment rate to date.) then it actually looks like a good idea, you are handing out a real help to people in need at cost 0 AND you get free games at giveaways.
Good ideia in my opinion, thumbs up.

12 years ago
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Thank you very much. That is my thought exactly. I had no idea people were so pessimistic/cynical on this community. Cheers Nothus. Cheers

12 years ago
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No group could be retrieved for the given URL.

12 years ago
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and thx, no

12 years ago
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Don't know about the group, but thanks for introducing me to kiva. Looks trustworthy and I'll probably be lending something once I put some more money into my debit card. :)

12 years ago
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Cheers buddy. All that matters is that something happens out of this idea. Cheers cordateflame.

12 years ago
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Also, new Kiva members that join through the team link above get a free $25 to loan. no risk at all

12 years ago
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I'd just like to caution people who are interested in this that microfinance institutions like Kiva are not necessarily as good for developing economies as they might first appear. I recommend reading The Microfinance Illusion by Milford Bateman and Ha-Joon Chang before making a decision to invest. The paper is available from Cambridge here:
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/faculty/chang/pubs/Microfinance.pdf

12 years ago
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this is an interesting topic overall, thanks for the title im going to read that and thanks to the op

12 years ago
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Downloaded and put on my kindle, will be perfect toilet reading

12 years ago
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Lol

12 years ago
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Thank you for your counter-point. Like all things involving what you do with your money, due diligence must be preformed. And like many things with money, there will always be two sides in relation to what to do with it. It is a subject worth googling, I just suggest that readers read a counter-point to the views posed by Bateman and Chang: http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=5174.

12 years ago
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Thank you for that. Microfinance always did seem like a weird concept, based on wishful thinking and no actual understanding of economics. Now I know why.

12 years ago
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Sounds like a pyramid scheme

12 years ago
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I'm not quite sure I follow. Would you care to explain, as I am curious

12 years ago
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A pyramid scheme is basically called a pyramid because the bottom people support the top people. The person at the tops makes out like a bandit and everyone that follows earns something as well until the pyramid stops and the bottom people are shit out of luck.

12 years ago
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That's what instantly pops into my head reading this

12 years ago
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THIS.

but we gotta remember that capitalism is the MAIN pyramid scheme

12 years ago
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Ha! Hear hear! I like it. Cheers buddy

12 years ago
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12 years ago
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so i just can give the free trial loan?

12 years ago
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Well, I originally hope that people would loan out of pocket, but any impact is a good impact in my opinion. I would be receptive to admitting people for now with just the bonus loaned, if nothing else than to get the word out/awareness raised. Is that good?

12 years ago
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k, done, please invite me to the group xD

12 years ago
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I did that too please invite me to the group now :) Thanks

12 years ago
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You got it buddy. Thanks for doing it. Cheers. invite sent

12 years ago
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send your money to me instead, MAYBE i will give it back at some point.

Prince of Nigeria Martins Aloye

totally legit street 1337

Nigeria

12 years ago
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done i expect i cant wait to get lots of those free games. when will i get my money back cause i want to buy skyrim

12 years ago
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Well if youre new to kiva, you get a free $25 to loan, and that all thats needed to get admitted to the group.

12 years ago
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I think we have a failure too understand how Kiva works here..First, we have too many children round these parts, second that 98 return static is on one of FOUR loans being re payed..Thats like saying one inf four people who join will repay..Third this gets third parties involved, and various ones at that depending on the general locations of the users...

Fourth, depending on where he lives*..he may never have too repay lows at an international level.

12 years ago
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I'm sorry, i'm pretty tired, but are you saying you for Kiva or against it? I not sure i'm understanding your arguments.

12 years ago
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Kiva is a bad example too use is what I am saying. Too many loop holes.

12 years ago
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It is very possible that I am not fully aware of all the alternatives, and I am very receptive to any more relevant, more reputable ones. I am just seeing if this idea would facilitate an increase of loans for something that is worthwhile. I am trying to gauge the members of this community. If it fails, bummer. It just means I thought this community was something that it isn't.

12 years ago
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I am one for the idea, but Kiva has too many loop holes and blind spots as with any service that would allow us too do this. However, I don't frequent these things often, so I am sure one more suited too the goal exist somewhere.

12 years ago
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Hmmmm....This is one of the more well know sites that take care of these things. There is a free $25 bonus to loan out, so I think it really helps with the decision. I say, "Give it a shot. You're not out any money."

12 years ago
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Helping people in need? D:

Aside from that, lots of bundle keys and games you most likely bought on discount? Not sure it's even worth paying the money.

12 years ago
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The people need the money facilitated by Kiva, that's why they are borrowing it. "Paying" is an incorrect term in the context of this matter, given how it fails to fulfill the definition of the word. People are "lending." And how the games were acquired doesn't seem to be very important if the winner didn't buy it and it is being given to them.

12 years ago
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I joined the 'team' but I'm waiting on an outstanding loan before sending more. Cool idea.

12 years ago
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Thanks a lot Flanlord. It nice some people agree with this idea. I think I am going to change the requirements of admittance to allow just the $25 bonus for joining Kiva.org to be enough. I think it will get the ball rolling a lot faster. Cheers buddy

12 years ago
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Err... what I meant to say was "I h8 me sum gud deedz! GIEF GAEM not AID!"

In all honesty, I don't have anything to give, but I try to get a couple people a week to do the join/trial thing.

There are groups here for comment/entry ratios, or liking a cartoon. I'm stoked to see one being formed for an actual reason. Even if this group fades away in a month, it'll have done more good than most others.

12 years ago
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And that's all I really want

12 years ago
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What shit is this?

12 years ago
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Umm, good shit?

12 years ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 5 years ago.

12 years ago
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give fake ones duh

12 years ago
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So i made free loan, invite me :D

12 years ago
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Will do soon. Im still at work

12 years ago
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Thanks for doing it and thank you for waiting. invite sent. cheers

12 years ago
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Thanks for invite :D

12 years ago
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sooo, when are you going to invite me?

12 years ago
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Sorry for the wait. I'll add when i get off work. Which is soon

12 years ago
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Nothing to lose, done.

12 years ago
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Cheers buddy. Thanks. Invite sent. And be sure to message me your steam profile on the Kiva team site.

12 years ago
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I have also just made a free loan. Invite please :)

12 years ago
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Got it. Invite sent. Thanks for doing this. Cheers

12 years ago
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Registered and lent to Manuela Ramos Group, gogo food stall! :)

12 years ago
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Cheers buddy, thanks for doing it. Invite sent.

12 years ago
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Did the first loan, unfortunately, I don't have $25 of my own to do give a loan. I'm on a loan myself. T-T but good luck with the whole thing!

12 years ago
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You did your free $25 loan through the MvukeUnity Kiva Team site? 'Cause if you did, that's all you need to do

12 years ago
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I just loaned 25 dollars now what do I do?

12 years ago
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I will then add you to the group when i get off work. I think the first giveaway will be within the next day or so

12 years ago
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Invite sent. Cheers buddy, thanks for doing this

12 years ago
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Well I have signed up and used the free 25$ loan to Sonita, she looked sad

12 years ago
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Welcome to Kiva, Lily!

Congratulations on making your first loan! Now that you've seen how lending can change a life, maximize your impact by lending to someone else in need.

12 years ago
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Could have just been a bright day? anyways, thanks for doing it. and you do you do you due diligence too. Cheers. invite sent.

12 years ago
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Why not? The way I see it, with this free trial I don't exactly lose anything. Joined the team, gave the money to Rafairin.

12 years ago
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Thats what i think. It dont cost a dime for new kiva members. I will add everyone after i get off work today.

12 years ago
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To me, with the bonus, it really is a win win situation. Thanks for doing it. And i like all the different countries these loans can go. invite sent. cheers

12 years ago
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Heck, since some really generous guy is sponsoring loans, why not make use of them? I registered and gave my $25 to Kelvine, because she seems to be an ambitious woman.

12 years ago
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Right? Cheers buddy, i'll add you to the group after work

12 years ago
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These people that are sponsoring the bonus $25 for loans are pretty cool. I'm glad you did what you did and I like the cause. Thanks again. Cheers. invite sent

12 years ago
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Ok i just did mine, so what now?

12 years ago
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I'll add you to the grouo after i get off work.

12 years ago
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Invite sent. thanks for waiting buddy.

12 years ago
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12 years ago
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Cool buddy. I like the cause you loaned to. Invite sent.

12 years ago
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Closed 12 years ago by bardsley94122.