I just blogged about Kiva, the microcredit charitable organization.

I learned about Kiva very unexpectedly through Blender Nation, a blog dedicated to the 3D animation software Blender.

I like it when various sites which are originally not necessarily charitable endeavors, take the time to have a thought for those who really need our help.

They wrote:

Woah! Three years have already passed since I began a small experiment in blogging :). Time for a birthday present!

Maybe you remember our previous fundraiser where we donated 1 classroom, 4000 hot meals, 2 goats, 1 alpaca and 3 animal care kits to a Third World country? That was great, but when tax time came it became hell for me because I had to sort out all the donations with my bookkeeper ;-)

Still, I want to do something similar again - use the size and enthusiasm of this community to do good for others. Just with less tax headache.

One of the best initiatives in this area are 'microcredits': people provide small, interest-free loans to people in third world countries, who use the money to start or expand their own business. I believe this is a *much* more successful approach than simply giving money.

An easy way to do this is through Kiva.org - a website where you can find an entrepreneur or activity, and lend them something. As they would say it, "connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty".