Today it's Global Student Microfinance Day and here at Deki we're buzzing about the enthusiasm and drive of the global student community to tackle world poverty using microfinance.

The day has been championed by US-based student microfinance platform, PoverUP, Named one of 'America's coolest college start-ups' PoverUp is a student grassroot movement created to raise students' awareness on the power of microfinance in high schools and universities all over the world.

With events taking place all over the world including conferences, seminars and a fundraising 'Month of Microfinance', Global Student Microfinance Day is about celebrating, educating, and harnessing the global lending power of students. For many of these web savvy 'digital natives', the idea of online lending and re-using microloans to help others is a way of 'smart giving'. As well as the money being recycled elsewhere, the recipient can take control of their own future and maintain dignity in repaying the loan.

Our founder, Vashti Richards, came up with the idea for Deki in '08 while still a student at UWE in Bristol, UK. Thanks to funding from the University, the charity was brought to life and now offers commission-free microloans from as little as £10 at www.deki.org.uk.

Vashti says,

"While I was at University, I was passionate about creating something that combined the power of the internet and online communities as a force for combating poverty. There were a few microfinance charities back then but none in the UK offering the person-to-person element.

Our field partners were already doing great things in their communites, providing essential education, health services and training. Deki microloans offered the final part in the jigsaw, enabling people to take these skills and create a future for themselves.

It's fantastic seeing organisations like PoverUp and MFI Connect springing up, not to mention the growth in student microfinance societies. For these, ethical microfinance is a no-brainer. Let's hope that together we can make a real difference tackling world poverty. "