My daughter and I were talking over the holidays about if she wanted to work on a project she could take responsiblity for (with support). We decided on dog walking, as we have to walk our dog anyway. So she advertised at her school and with the Queer Families group her for her Saturday morning dog walking service, taking the dogs for a 2 hour walk in the woods. She also agree to put 10% of her money to provide microloans to 3rd world businesses through www.kiva.org (If you don't know the organization check their website and consider them as a worthy cause.) We've already lent to two businesses, but it will be great for her to be able to do it herself. I expect this to be a good balance of fun and educational.

I heard about Kiva through an interview with someone or other on NPR. Looks like a good program. Kudos to your little girl for being so entrepreneurial.

Well, five emails saying what a great idea .. but we are yet to book our first dog. I figure if we get three dogs she is going to be cleaning up. She'll earn $15 a week and she'll be able to lend to some microbusiness every 6 weeks or so (as I'm going to match her contibutions). She says that she is not yet having as much fun with this as I am. LOL

Well we had a gas. We had two dogs and my daughter and her friend each earned $5 and set aside a donation to KIVA. My nephew came along as well. Next week we've got four dogs booked and she so exicted. We developed a phone script for her for her calls Friday night to make pick up arrangments - dog behavior, contact info, pick up times, addresses etc. This week I'll make her little business cards so she can give them to people when we get the dogs - emergency contact info and stuff. A fun learning experience.