Stricken Sounds

I am a strong promoter of Kiva, a website that engages in microfinance to help out third world development. You go on Kiva’s website (www.kiva.org) and look through a list of hundreds of “entrepreneurs” in third world countries who need small loans to grow their businesses. An example of this would be a woman who needs $300 so that she can produce more fruit to sell at her fruit stand. You choose to donate $25 to this woman, along with a group of 11 others who fund $25. Once the loan amount is reached, the money is transferred to a local bank that disperses the money to her. She makes monthly payments on the loan to the bank and they keep the interest, but the original amount that you loaded is put back into your Kiva account where you can withdraw it or fund a new loan. What a great way to donate money that you eventually get back! Everybody should check them out.