Hello world!  Our first official post is here!  We are a student-run microfinancing non-profit business, The General Development Initiative.  Founded at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA in 2009, we aim to extend loans domestically and abroad to people who cannot receive traditional ones from banks, etc to start their businesses.  Presently, we are partnered with the IRC in Charlottesville, VA working with a women's cooperative to create and sell scarves, bags, hats, and jewelry.  This summer, we are traveling to Quito, Ecuador to work with Casa Victoria, a program in Old Town Quito that offers homework help, computer classes, reading and writing tutoring, and other services to the children in their community.  We are hoping to build a long term relationship with Casa Victoria and work to build a Cafe to be run by their students in Quito.  Keep checking back here for updates from our trip and news on our project!