How to Make a Micro-Loan Overseas

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i have some money, and i would like to invest it in an enlightened way
but i'm no SAINT...i need a return, even to just turn it over.
are there groups that ''bundle'' smaller loans or make smaller loans directly;
administer them for a fee, and still pay some INTEREST to the lender?
please direct me. henry.

henry cavanagh of NY 1:33PM August 06, 2009

I was so excited to read this post and see how interested people are in micro-lending. My husband and I were Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar. From our experience, we realized that one of the key ways to help women improve their health, their financial opportunities, their relationships with their husbands, was to help give them financial freedom by offering them small loans to start or expand their business. We now run an NGO in Madagascar that gives small business loans to women. The benefit of our NGO is that you can choose from our website which woman you would like to support and you will get monthly photo updates from her, and blog updates about the loans and their impact. 100% of your loan goes directly to the woman. If anyone is interested in lending to one of these women, please visit our website:
http://www.opportunitysolutions.org/masomboly/borrowers

Alison of MA 6:02AM July 26, 2009

There is a new online service available from ZimpleMoney.com that let's you make your own micro-loans directly to borrowers or sponsoring organizations. ZimpleMoney lets you can take control of your micro-lending activity. Please login to ZimpleMoney.com and contact us if you want to explore using ZimpleMoney.com. Good Micro-lending!

Steven Rabago of CA 3:28PM July 25, 2009

Thank you for this valuable information, Kimberly. It's heart-warming to see studies showing that women, in particular, have a stellar track record of both paying back and adding value when they are recipients of micro-loans (eg: http://www.womenstrust.org/content/history-microlending). Thanks to organizations like Kiva, going forward, many of the communities of women Ruth refers to in the previous comment will have the ability to make more empowering life choices as a result of being financially empowered. Here's to a world where "I am woman - hear me roar... with financial strength" is the global chant.

Manisha Thakor of TX 2:23PM July 24, 2009

Many years ago, I was in Africa with Books For Africa. At one point, we came upon a woman representing a small Minnesota foundation, making micro-loans to women, so that they could start a crop, make a little profit, and then loan money to other women to do the same. BUT. Accountability was the key, and the group met monthly with the foundation representative to report on their progress. As she put it, "We don't loan money just to watch the maize grow." The sad part of the experience was when the group met, and a woman would be absent. When asked, those present replied, "Oh, Betty--she died." Another month, "Where is Mary?" "Oh, she died." The women had no resistence to AIDS which was brought back to their villages by the men working in other areas, and they died almost instantly.

ruth gottstein of CA 1:48PM July 24, 2009