Peer networking tips often carry the admonition that “giving” in the course of your B2B networking activities will garner you rewards, if not immediate, your efforts go towards growing the deep roots that support your professional growth for decades.

Applying that principle on another level has fostered many “micro” efforts to “give” to the poor – not global concerts organized by celebrities and their political cronies, but real nuts and bolts networking that produces results, sustenance and a platform for future wealth producing activities. At least that is the premise of micro-financing.

“With tiny loans, financial services and technology, we help the poor, mostly women, start self-sustaining businesses to escape poverty. Founded in 1997 by a group of friends who were inspired by the work of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, our global network of micro-finance partners reaches over 3.6 million families in 22 countries.”

Proponents of micro-financing tout the proven track record of Grameen Foundation, quoted above, as evidence that enabling individuals to create and be responsible for their own wealth at the smallest level serves the poor far more than the do-good efforts of many NGOs and government sponsored efforts.

“Imagine billions of people that are not motivated by promises to pull down those above them but instead seek opportunity for their own ascension. A powerful picture, and since it is happening first at the poorest levels that have been so cavalierly treated – it is off the radar of self-centered world leaders.”
(Source)