Afghanis who know the US from our military can't wait for us to leave. Those who know the US through GPFA welcome us. GPFA's goal is to turn the Afghan valleys back into the Orchard of the Central Asia (as it was known in the 1970s, before generations of war) by helping farmers plant orchards, vineyards, tree nurseries and vegetable gardens--people whose only profit source has been poppy cultivation. Last year alone, over a million trees were planted, including almost 6000 orchards.

93% of donations goes directly to clients, providing micro-loans, primarily to women. Plenty has been written recently about unscrupulous microfinance organizations who tempt people to overextend themselves and then squeeze them dry. FINCA's rate for in-arrears more than 30 days is a very conservative less than 1.5%, of which less than 1% is eventually written off. In addition to the individual loans, FINCA's model is to build village banking organizations wherever they lend, with more and more of the lending done by locals over time.

A donation to SELF gives way more than once--first, it funds micro-loans to let off-grid clients purchase solar lighting solutions. Second, the solar lighting displaces kerosine lighting whose smoke is toxic, especially to children. Third, the loan can be paid off with the funds saved on kerosine purchase, and afterwards that money is available for other discretionary purchases. And last, the donation translates into carbon offsets at about a ton per $10 donation for the donor.