The Obama effect

While browsing on Kiva earlier on, I couldn't believe my eyes at first when I noticed that someone created a 'Team Obama' in the communities section.

Not only that, the Team Obama community - set up on 4 September - has already loaned a total of $107,625 to date, to a variety of entrepreneurs all over the world (before you reach for your calculator, that's an average of $73.71 per person).

I was even more interested to note that this community of 1,460 individuals has made 3,806 loans.  That means, the average member has given 2.6 times - in just over two months.

There are a lot of charities that would be extremely happy to have donors as committed, and giving as frequently, as that.  Of course, these are not strictly donations, but loans, and the lenders will get their money back in time (although many will then loan it to another entrepreneur).  I would doubt, however, that the motivation is any different between the two.

From what I can tell, this community was set up not by the Obama campaign, but by an individual supporter, or supporters - just normal people who have been inspired and motivated by Obama's vision for change and have bought into the shared responsibility of achieving it.  It's all summed up in their statement:

'Everyone, everywhere who understands that Barack Obama combined with our individual efforts through Kiva will help make this world a much better place!'

I found myself reflecting on how often charities succeed in creating the kind of passion and conviction that Barack Obama manages to stir up in people, and how much more they could achieve if they followed his example and made people feel excited, empowered and united in the way that he has done.  It's even more remarkable when you consider that he has motivated people to do good to the point that they are proactively seeking out ways to do that - right across the world.