MicroFinance, Grameen & Kiva

You may have heard of the Nobel Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus who started Grameen Bank, offering micro-finance or micro-credit: small loans (not charity) to impoverished entrepeneurs across the globe.

There are a lot of micro-banks around now and they provide a very powerful alternative to charity - nevertheless, very few enable ordinary individuals like you or me to get involved. 

Kiva was started by a young couple - Jennifer & Matt Flannery - who came up with a very simple way individuals can make a very small loan, at very little risk, to make a big and tangible difference. Kiva is now one of the world's largest micro-finance facilitators and for me a brilliant way to empower some of the world's disadvantaged but hardworking entrepeneurs. 

It's a great example of Gen Y innovation and leadership... check out this short podcast:  Learn About Kiva or check out the website - there's a link on the right sidebar (Little Loans...).