Many people need a small loan to get them through a hard time or to expand their business. Microlenders tend to charge higher interest rates than traditional banks, but they also take more risks. They loan to many people who might otherwise be turned down for a loan.
Kiva is one of these organizations. They act as an umbrella that unites many microlenders across the globe. They can provide small loans to people whose poverty would otherwise bar access to finances. You can help by volunteering to cover one of these loans for a small amount. Twenty-five dollars would not buy much at the stores today, but it can join with others to help lift someone in a poverty or conflict zone out of misery. They can help an entrepreneur, a student, an artist, or a family.