Entrepreneurs in rural China are pulling themselves out of poverty with the help of a new micro-credit Web site
I'm just passing along this information about Wokai.org
Wokai
Make a lasting difference in rural China.WHAT IS WOKAI
Wokai (我开 - “I start” in Mandarin) is an 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2007, dedicated to helping individuals in rural China lift themselves out of poverty through microloans. Our platform connects you and other contributors around the world to individual farmers and microentrepreneurs in rural China in need of small loans.
WHY CHINA
The growing divide in rural China. Despite China's economic boom over the past decades, over 200 million rural Chinese still live on less than $1.25 USD a day. Inequalities have developed and are growing larger by the day, and the "have nots" in rural areas continue to have limited access to basic financial services, healthcare, education and environmental education.
Microcredit is the answer. The extension of very small loans to those in poverty is the best solution to correct these inequalities in a lasting way. Small loans offer a "hand up" and not a mere "hand out" to those in need, creating the right incentives for them to work hard and learn how to help lift themselves out of poverty. Furthermore, these loans empower the impoverished by allowing them to start small businesses and earn income to pay for their basic needs.
HOW WOKAI WORKS
A unique model, powered by the web. Wokai.org is a platform that allows anyone to fund microloans to rural Chinese individuals through a credit card, and contributions can be made for as little as $10. Contributors are able to track the borrower progress and will be able to redistribute their contributions after the borrower repays. Due to China's financial sector regulations, your contribution will be recycled as loan capital year after year, unlike with our friends at Kiva, where your loan is returned at the end of a year. While Chinese regulations currently prevent us from being able to repay foreign lenders, all contributions are used perpetually as microloan capital and are continually recycled. Our sustainable model greatly amplifies the impact of any single contribution.
Trusted and transparent. 100% of your contribution goes towards funding microloans in rural China, period.
Wokai funds its operations through separate contributions from individuals and corporations, and Google generously provides its payment platform to us at no cost.
Wokai has spent over 2 years developing relationships with Field Partners in rural China screen and select borrowers and distribute, monitor, and collect repayment on loans. Our field partners support their operations with the interest collected on the microloans.
Our executive team and full time staff in Beijing monitor our relationships with field partners closely to ensure that funds are properly directed. The extensive due diligence that we conduct on our field partners and that they, in turn, conduct on each recipient, has resulted in an over 98% repayment rate.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW
Visit Wokai.org to learn more and contribute today.
MORE ABOUT WOKAI
Wokai maintains offices in Oakland, California and Beijing, China, and also runs active chapters in San Francisco, Seattle and New York, with more than 80 active volunteer representatives who help promote our cause.
We've recently been featured on CNBC, Google Tech Talks, NewsWeek, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and have partnered with the Salesforce.com Foundation, Morrison & Foerster, Shartsis Friese, The Brunswick Group, Proskauer Rose, Latham & Watkins, O'Melveny & Myers, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Yummy Porky and EASTWEST Public Relations.
Apart from our immediate goal of raising loan capital, Wokai is building a global community of individuals and institutions taking action to build a better China. Wokai also operates as an informational resource on the non-profit sector in China. By auditing institutions and tracking every dollar contributed to an institution, Wokai is also developing the transparency crucial for inspiring institutional efficiency and regulatory change.
《稻香》中最喜欢的词
《稻 香》 词：周杰伦 曲：周杰伦
对这个世界如果你有太多的抱怨
跌倒了就不敢继续往前走
为什么人要这么的脆弱 堕落
请你打开电视看看
多少人为生命在努力勇敢的走下去
我们是不是该知足
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡 随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带着你逃跑 乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好
不要这么容易就想放弃 就像我说的
追不到的梦想 换个梦不就得了
为自己的人生鲜艳上色 先把爱涂上喜欢的颜色
笑一个吧 功成名就不是目的
让自己快乐快乐这才叫做意义
童年的纸飞机 现在终于飞回我手里
所谓的那快乐 赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了 谁在偷笑呢
我靠着稻草人吹着风唱着歌睡着了
哦 哦 午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆
哦 哦 阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡 随着稻香河流继续奔跑
Little Surprises
You know you're going to have a good day when you unexpectedly find money in the pockets of your clothes. It doesn't matter how much you find, a dollar or two is enough to make you smile on a grim morning. This morning, I found 3 Yuan in the back pocket of a pair of jeans I haven't worn for almost a year. I was smiling all morning. It's these little surprises in life that make life more enjoyable.