Come for a pint and help China's rural poor

Think of “micro-finance” and rarely do drinks come to mind. But Wokai -- an NGO that allows people to contribute directly to micro-finance institutions in China who lend money to entrepreneurs in rural China -- is trying to change all that starting with its first low-key happy hour, “Drink for a Better World,” tonight at Boxing Cat Brewery.

Founded by Casey Wilson and Courtney McColgan in 2007 while studying at Beijing's Tsinghua University, Wokai now has chapters in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Beijing and Hong Kong. Not a bad group of cities to join up with. 

No need to be a micro-finance buff or a do-gooder to come for a pint. Today’s event is just an introduction to the group before the big April 8 launch event at URBN. (Even if you can’t tell the difference between microfinance and an iPod mini, come to check out URBN’s new look.) The happy hour simply aims to build awareness of the power of microfinance in helping the poorest of the poor in China, and raise funds through the Wokai website to make loans to rural farmers in Sichuan and Inner Mongolia, so that they can start their own small businesses. 

Head over raise a pint to Wokai and drink for a better world -- a BCB brew never tasted so good.

Wokai Happy Hours, Boxing Cat Brewery, drink specials start at 7pm, no cover, Erica.Chain@wokai.org, www.wokai.org