Happy International Women's Day

3 Ways to Celebrate International Women's Day

Poor people lead incredibly complicated financial lives. They have to make ends meet on an average income of $2 a day, which barely covers their basic needs. To manage their unpredictable situations, they need access to funds and financial tools that traditional banks aren’t willing to provide.

Poor women in particular, are often denied bank loans and deemed unbankable. Fortunately, through microfinance projects, entrepreneurial women can connect into a huge pool of untapped investment funds that such projects strive to make available to the working poor. 

1 One such micro-lender, MicroPlace enables you to make investments in the fight against worldwide poverty -- a $300 billion problem. While daunting, raising and effectively distributing that kind of capital to the people who need it is indeed possible.

2 Join the FITE against poverty and oppression. Financial Independence Through Entreprenuership, believes that when a woman develops her own sustainable business, not only does she improve her own situation – but her entire community benefits through a multiplier effect of change.

3 KIVA, in turn, represents a source of funding for variety of microfinance projects, housing loans, agricultural loans, and manufacturing loans, enabling women to invest in their growth. 

It might be hard to imagine how so little can do so much good in the world, but it can. Sometimes, it only takes a few hundred dollars from several investors to help a borrower purchase supplies at a better wholesale price, resulting in higher profits. Or better yet, a new piece of equipment, such as a sewing machine, to double her output. 

Literally, the cost of a cup of coffee per day could change a woman's life from starving to thriving. That's how we can help our sisters.