Microcredit a la Carte

What if you could give money to an organization and actually choose who received that money. Imagine, an online database of people in need. You could go to a profile, see what their need was and choose them based on your personal preference. Kiva, an online database of entrepreneurs seeking microcredit loans does just that. I came across this unique fundraising tool and its innovative person to person lending program allows people to track the person’s progress online. Through Kiva’s partners the lender can transfer money online that goes directly to an entrepreneur in a developing country. I have been a supporter of microcredit loans for a long time and I found this website to be inspiring. Giving a donor a choice to invest in someone, rather then simply donating money is something that I think will catch on. The website has received a lot of press, garnering accolades as one of the top websites of 2008 by Time and Women’s Health.

On another note, I’ve changed my homepage from the BBC World News Page for OneWorld.net, a website devoted to international issues and has a lot of popping headlines on development, and aims to “provide the news and views of over 1600 organizations that are promoting human rights awareness and fighting poverty worldwide”.