Not too long ago the book club I belong to read Banker to the Poor. The author, Muhammad Yunus, witnessed the cycle of poverty and did something to reverse that cycle. He loaned money, small amounts and specifically to woman, to help them start a business and improve their lives. His bank was wildly successful and this idea of micro-lending has become a model for other parts and organizations.
One place that makes it easy for you to contribute to micro-lending around the world is www.globalgiving.com. The website is easy to navigate. They’ve done a great job showing what kinds of supplies or services each organization is able to supply at each donation level. As little as $10 goes a long way. Each short description is linked to another page that describes each project in more detail, has a world map with the location of the project and there are pictures of some of the recipients of the micro-loans.
Take a look and see what you think. www.globalgiving.com