So, a while back I heard about the concept of "micro-loans" as a way to help people in developing countries start businesses without just giving handouts.
The Kiva organization has been on PBS, CNN and elsewhere. It's really blown up. Here is how they describe their efforts...
Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.
And that's the great thing. You aren't donating to a charity. You're loaning money to people who have dreams of running a successful business. Believe it or not, the loan default rate is very low. The potential recipients are vetted to make sure they have a solid business plan and aren't scammers. It's all described on the site so I won't go into too much detail. Just thought you guys might like to know about this. It's a very personal way (you can see the pics and business plans) to make a difference in the world without just handing money over to a giant organization and hoping that it does some good.
[A href="vny!://www.kiva.org/"]vny!://www.kiva.org/[/A]
