Think and Act Globally

Here's a gem of an organization courtesy of my sister-in-law who has her pulse on ways to make the world a better place. Go to www.kiva.org and you can loan $25.00 to a budding entrepreneur in a developing country. That's right, only $25.00 is asked, and it will eventually be paid back.

I got a gift certificate for my birthday--a great gift, by the way--and I'm still sorting through the 32 pages of people around the world who are seeking capital to start a small business. Of course, my loan isn't all they need. The money is pooled from other donors to create however much start-up capital they need. I can loan money to individuals or collectives, to start businesses in retail or restaurants or machinery repair.

A similar organization is at www.globalgiving.com. I haven't checked out their web page yet but a NY Times article mentioned them in the same breath as Kiva and said the only difference is that Global Giving donates the money outright.

I'm truly thrilled to be able to reach out in this way, helping one person at a time, whose success will create a ripple effect in his/her family and community. Try it for yourself and see just how good it feels.