Kiva is a microfinance organization that specializes in connecting small borrowers and lenders. It published a video animation of its lending activity since the organization's inception in April, 2005. Used with permission. Via Storyful.

From Kiva: In 2006, Kiva burst onto the scene, mostly thanks to a PBS Frontline feature that introduced the world to Kiva’s micro-lending technology. Before that, most people had never even heard of micro-lending. With the launch of  Kiva, people like you and me now have the ability to make a micro-loan (as little as $25) to a farmer in Uganda, a retail shop owner in Peru, a person starting a sewing business in Mongolia, or thousands of other individuals who are working to create new opportunities for themselves and their families. Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, to alleviate poverty.

As you will see from this amazing video, Kiva has connected millions of people all over the world to spark new business and life opportunities for the poor. Watch as Kiva’s work takes off, and the fireworks really start. Each light launch represents a person making a loan, primarily to an entrepreneur in a developing country. As the borrowers are successful with their businesses and pay the loans back, you’ll see an exciting interchange of bright lights across the globe – people connecting, through lending!

To date, Kiva has enabled nearly 1 million people to make over $240 million in loans to individuals around the globe! Check out the video, and if you are like me, you’ll be amazed by the number of lives one organization can touch in such a short period of time. If you want to be the next light launch on Kiva’s map, check out Kiva.org to learn more.