I just discovered a new microfinance site – wokai — it really gets me excited.

It has a single-country focus – address China’s Urban-Rural Divide.

It’s founded by two Americans who have studied and lived in China. I appreciate their insight, compassion, and entrepreneurial drive to make things happen.

I’m impressed by their business development strategy. In addition to their local partners in China, they have built local chapters of volunteers in several cities in the United States to help promote wokai and get the words out to potential contributors.

They have created a very clean, and user-friendly microfinance platform.

Finally, but not lastly, I truly believe in their mission. China has had explosive economic growth in the past decade. But, a very significant percentage of the population are still living in poverty. The gap between city and rural areas are widening.

If you make donations to charities (which I think everybody should do), please check out wokai – make a small investment, and you’ll help someone in a big way.

Thought-provoking books on micro-finance and related topics:

• The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good
• The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
• Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty