One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind.
The social lending site Kiva allows lenders to give to a specific entrepreneur in a poor or developing country. Kiva has been connecting lenders with would-be entrepreneurs for over 3 years now.
Kiva started out listing just seven Ugandan entrepreneurs as applicants, and has since brokered $2.5 million in loans to thousands of businesses.
It's now possible for someone in the United States to make a small mini-loan directly to a person in need overseas.
Loans are typically up to $2000. Kiva now has a presence in almost all African countries.