The Challenge

As part of the Stanford Global Innovation Challenge 2007, a team of 3 of us have taken it upon ourselves to see how much interest and awareness we can generate for the not-for-profit microfinance website, Kiva (www.kiva.org).

So what's all the fuss about?

"[Microfinance is] the extension of small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. In developing countries especially, microcredit enables very poor people to engage in self-employment projects that generate income."
-- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfinance

Kiva uses this idea at a personal level, and links people who want money with people who people who are willing to loan the money and help improve conditions in the developing world.

As one website describes it, Kiva is like "microfinance meets Match.com"

Sounds a bit dodgy?
It's already been covered by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and BBC to name a few.

Will I get my money back?
The best thing is, it's a loan, not a donation. The purpose is to lend people money so they can help themselves, and then repay you the loan. In fact, to date Kiva has managed to maintain a 100% payback rate.

So what are you waiting for, go and check it out! www.kiva.org
(ps. While you're here, why not leave us a comment to tell us what you think. It can be anonymous!)