Additionally if you want to do something like this and your primary motivation is to make money yourself there is also another type of Internet based service similar to Kiva that focuses on post industrial countries where the lender makes interest on loan just like a bank. The service facilitates loans between people for a multitude of reasons. The name of this service is Prosper. This is a Link.

not my fault people dont understand the genius of microfinance.
I dont see the need for assistance in a post-Irev country. microfinance only works really well when you have small, dependant communities with limited inter-community trading. it does work beyond that, but it quickly becomes plagued by statistical uncertainties and corruption and taxes.

where in the country are we talking? if you mean midwest, hell, that makes sense. but in cities or suburbs it is lacking in certain failsafes.

unfortunately after the buisness launches off, its just as likely to get pulled into banks. I dont like bank-superstructure, but I dont think microfinance alleviates the need for it.

the idea of microfinance is numerous small injections of money into small communities, as the money is spread to different buisnesses and handed around, it increases the production capacity of certain buisnesses, in effect creating money out of thin air. this works all dandy in small communities as in Africa etc. but in cities or suburbs, the small injections are easily dispersed and lost in the greater cash flow.

PA is distinct in that it resembles the backcountry more than any other state in the New England area. there are two major population centers, one to the southeast, another to the west, and a smaller concentration in the northwest.
central PA, however, has very little popuation. normally the populace is concentrated in small town communities, with sparse population in between.
the result is that its rather perfect for microfinance. but that tactic could not possible work in places like hartford (5th highest crime rate for a city in the world) as the money would dissipate far too quickly.

banking creates money, true enough.
but they largely keep it for themselves. very few buisnesses are capable of paying off a bank loan while expanding, the result being that we have bigwig banking systems that are of little use except to get into credit card debt.

for the naive, yes.
you should NEVER go out on a buying spree with a credit card. thats lunacy, if you cant pay it in debit
DONT BUY IT.

I'm aware fully of how banking works, thanks anyhow.

we're clogging the charity thread, how about we bring this to a different place?