Let your money travel the world

Summer is just around the corner. Maybe you’re dreaming of sunny beaches, mountain hikes, exploring nature, or simply soaking up some sun. But what if instead of spending your money just on yourself, you sent it out to truly make a difference? There's also a strong chance you'll also get your money back with interest.

With Lendahand, your money travels the world. Not to a beach chair, but to entrepreneurs in emerging countries who use your investment to grow their business, create jobs, and strengthen their communities. In this article, we showcase several destinations you can invest in, including one new and interesting borrower, so you can decide for yourself where your money makes an impact. 

Nature travel: Finance a Cow in Kyrgyzstan

Are you a nature lover who enjoys peace, space, and a sense of adventure? Then maybe an investment in Kyrgyzstan is right for you. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, between China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The majority of the population lives in rural areas, relying on small-scale farming to make a living.

As you can imagine, despite its stunning nature, access to financial services outside the cities is limited. Microfinance institutions like Bailyk Finance are therefore essential. Bailyk Finance is a women-led microfinance institution with a mission to improve the quality of life for people in rural areas and smaller cities in Kyrgyzstan. The organization supports small entrepreneurs with small loans.

One of them is Farida. Farida lives in a remote village in rural Kyrgyzstan and struggled to support her family. With a loan from Bailyk Finance, she bought a cow. The milk she sells now provides daily income and room to save. Her goal is to save enough to give her children better opportunities, perhaps even allowing them to study abroad.

Still curious about Kyrgyzstan? Read more here.

Curious about the other possible destinations? Keep reading.

Cultural travel: Support the Traditions of Tonga

Still dreaming of the sun, sea, and beach? Then Tonga, an island nation in Polynesia and part of Oceania, might just be your dream destination. Picture white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and radiant sunshine. But behind this idyllic image lies another reality.

In Tonga, one in five people lives below the poverty line (Asian Development Bank, 2021). Many rely on small-scale farming or fishing, which often barely provides enough to live on. Additionally, many people live in remote areas, far from traditional banking services. For small entrepreneurs, getting a loan is difficult, often due to a lack of collateral.

To bridge this financial gap in the South Pacific region, American entrepreneur Gregory Casagrande founded South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) in 2000. SPBD Tonga was launched in 2009 as part of the SPBD Group and has since been fighting financial inequality in the country. On Lendahand, you can invest in both SPBD Samoa and Tonga.

SPBD Tonga focuses on female entrepreneurs, providing group loans. Women form a group, each receive their own loan, and are collectively responsible for each other’s repayments. This way, more women gain access to financing, and mutual trust is strengthened.

Ilima is one of the women who was able to grow her business thanks to SPBD. She weaves traditional mats from pandan leaves, a craft she learned from her mother. Weaving is an old tradition in Tonga that still thrives today. The mats come in various forms and are used in the home for sitting, eating, sleeping, and are also worn around the waist during weddings, funerals, and other significant life events.

With the loan, Ilima expanded her workspace and purchased new materials. She now sells her mats to many Tongans living in Australia and New Zealand, increasing her income. SPBD Tonga supports women like Ilima with financing and training, helping them build a stable future.

Want to know more about Tonga? Sailor Lynn visited entrepreneurs in the country while. Read about her journey here.

Culinary travel: Invest in Organic Coffee in Peru

Last but not least: Peru, a destination full of culture, flavor, and history. Located on the west coast of South America, Peru presents a stunning landscape with the Andes, the Amazon rainforest, and the Pacific Ocean. In the capital, Lima, various cultures blend, reflected in traditions, architecture, and gastronomy.

Meanwhile, life in the countryside looks very different. For many families, coffee farming is a vital source of income. However, small-scale farmers often don't receive a fair price for their harvest. They rely on middlemen who offer low prices, even when market prices elsewhere are higher. This makes it hard to invest in their farms or support their families.

The Juan Santos Atahualpa cooperative aims to change that. By uniting farmers and working directly with them, the cooperative helps build stability and fairer income. Six hundred coffee farmers joined forces to form the Juan Santos Atahualpa cooperative to strengthen their position on the international market. By collaborating, they improve their bargaining power and secure better prices for their coffee. The cooperative buys directly from the farmers, giving them more security and reducing their dependence on exploitative intermediaries.

The cooperative also helps farmers obtain certifications such as Fairtrade, making the coffee more valuable on the market and encouraging more sustainable production methods. Additionally, the cooperative invests in basic infrastructure, such as building roads, so that farmers can transport their goods more easily to buyers.

Many of these farmers live in remote areas with limited access to international support. That’s where this collaboration really makes a difference: empowering communities to invest in their own future.The whole community benefits. Recently, Juan Santos Atahualpa launched a campaign to improve education by distributing school supplies to local children.

This cooperative will soon be welcomed as a new borrower on Lendahand. Swiss-based Fair Capital offers investors a 100% guarantee on this loan, meaning your investment and interest are secure. Keep an eye on our website, as this project will be available soon.

So, what do you think: time for a fair cup of coffee? A great moment to consider where your money will travel this summer.