Several years ago, the doors of entrepreneurship began to open for under-served peoples around the globe.

Poor communities of farmers, creative women, and eager students were given financial hope and all the benefits that come from working at a job of choice.

Scholars Jessica Jackley and Matt Flannery found that in poverty stricken areas, the lack of capital kept businesses from being built. So they began a capital-giving company online. They call it Kiva, or “unity” in Swahili. This non-profit organization, or international bank of sorts, unifies people around the world and connects would-be entrepreneurs with their needed start-up capital.

Using crowd funding, Kiva makes loans available, for free, to the poor. Kind-hearted investors offer loans in the amount of $25. The money is collected and dispersed to their new business owners. Then, once the business has gathered momentum, the loaned money is returned. Investors can pocket the funds or enjoy choosing where to share it again.

Like faith communities, like family, work is a God-planned part of life. It’s a blessing, not only for the finances it provides but also for the self-satisfaction it gives, the respect of others, the connection with community, the hope for one’s future. And like the kind-hearted Kiva investors have found, work allows people something else, the joy of giving back to others.