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What a fantastic idea.

Kiva connects people like yourself with unique small businesses in developing countries around the globe. In essence, you can sponsor a business and “help the world’s working poor make great strides toward economic independence.” As loans are repaid, you get your money back.

Loans can be as small as $25, and once you receive your money back (usually within six to 12 months), you can either drop it right back into your bank account or lend it to another business.

I signed up for Kiva on May 12 and decided to start off by sponsoring two businesses.

One loan I gave has helped a baker in Mexico move one step closer to purchasing a new mixer so that he may increase his daily bread production and supply more people and businesses in his area with food. The other loan will help a woman in Tajikistan expand her already-successful-but-quite-small restaurant.

If you’d like, Kiva will e-mail you journal updates over time so you know how your money is being used and how the businesses you sponsored are thriving and progressing.

Visit www.kiva.org; help someone less fortunate than you.