In 2006, Bangladesh’ Mohammad Yunus and his bank Grameen bank received the Peace Nobel Prize for the development and implementation of the concept of microlending.
Now, KIVA, at www.kiva.org lets people help fight poverty with the first online microlending structure that connects every day folks with people who need help.
It’s a really neat idea.
The Gates Foundation has been working on this issue for a number of years. They have been working on building the technology that underlies Grameen Banks micro-lending platform and they make grants to others in the micro-lending space. Neat stuff.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003304144_yunusside14m.html
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/217466/122328317798.htm
One of the many cool things about a Kiva loan is that once it’s paid back you can relend the money. I have four loans on the go at the moment and once I get a balance of $25.00 I can contribute to another loan.
There are lending groups you can form, should we start an ST group?
Sure…why not? We could have the support of our Master, Dan 
I’m setting it up now (slow Monday at work).
Do I need Dan’s permission to use the ST logo?
You do need his permission indeed!
The page (sans logo, pending approval from Slowman) is http://www.kiva.org/team/slowtwitch.
If you can’t find it online, I can invite you to join the team. Either post your email here or PM me with it.
Joined!
Excellent!
Now we have to make some loans and count them to the ST Group.
In. When do we have annual meetings/parties at swank hotels in Vegas or Hawaii?
Francois, do we tell Fishman it’s not that kind of banking?? Or promise him a lear jet and corporate bonus??
I smell bailout.
Francois, do we tell Fishman it’s not that kind of banking?? Or promise him a lear jet and corporate bonus??
Promise everything to investors, distribute large bonus to insiders THEN file for bankruptcy.
So if the pharmacist in Sierra Leone doesn’t pay me the $4.25 he still owes I can get a bailout? SUHWEET!
Where do I sign up for my million dollar bailout???