This is so cool kiva.org will take your PayPal “loans” and provide them to families/microbusinesses in the developing world. This is such an amazing example of the fluidity of thought, services and action that the internet is facilitating more and more of every day. Microcredit has gotten a lot of respect as a tool for real social change and improvement to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people, and now we can play along at home. From boingboing:
Kiva.org is the world’s first peer-to-peer, distributed microloan website. A great idea where PayPal meets Gates Foundation. The site allows you to lend a small amount of money, say $25, to needy microenterprises in developing countries. You receive repayment at the end of the loan period (normally 6-12 months) without interest. If they default on the loan, your loan becomes a donation – though none of the businesses have defaulted yet. A great low-risk, high-reward idea.