One of the ways that young people can make an immediate difference in the quality of individual lives around the world is through participating in micro-loan programs. If you've got a credit card (or a BKFK Gift Card), you can loan small amounts of money to individuals.
Kiva is a site that brings people together to make small loans to small businesses in the developing world. Individuals can loan $25 to provide working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, improve customer service, etc.), which allows them to earn their way out of poverty.
It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty - and it's one that kids and teens can be a part of easily.
Of course, this is just the type of work Freddi talks about in
A Kids Guide to Giving - great works large and small make a difference.