I actually joined Kiva over a year ago. I had been lucky, came into money, and felt the least I could do is take some of that, put it to the side, and use it to help people in some way... but how?
Kiva is a micro lender. People from other countries, with established businesses and good banking relationships request micro loans to improve their businesses. Usually about $500, rarely as high as $3,000. People donate in $25 increments, then, the people start paying back. The money comes back into your account, and you can either withdraw or reuse it.
You pick the country, you pick the circumstances. I'm a sucker for single parents who are supporting a bunch of kids myself. Of grandparents who had to take in their grandchildren while barely being able to take care of themselves and instead of giving them up, they go back into business to support them. Young men who's fathers die, and so are now the head of their household and so need that family business to be just a little bigger to support everyone...
I know this sounds like an ad for the place, but, you know what? Maybe it is. I don't care if you click the link, or just open up a new window and go to www.kiva.org, it's a worthy cause!
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