As anyone who went to the movies last year is aware, Facebook was born among the grassy knolls of a prestigious university. And the germ of an idea that would become Kiva came from a lecture at Stanford. Education, social networks, and microfinance have long been linked – and if they had a lovechild, it just might be The School Fund.

In many developing countries, an education is only guaranteed until the seventh grade. John Medos is one student from Tanzania who hit this roadblock when his impoverished family could not afford the $150 fee for secondary school although John passed the exam. John became The School Fund's first funded student.

Many students like John are priced out by school fees. Education is one of the most powerful tools available to stop the cycle of poverty, so the young founders, all 2011 college graduates sought to harness technology to make learning available to as many students as possible.

Students are vetted for financial need, academic performance, and attendance – and donors don’t simply send money and disappear. Instead, all members of the community can share exciting test results or simple posts about school life.

This person-to-person platform has reached twelve countries and is growing every day. If Web 2.0 is all about connection, we can’t think of many more meaningful than the power to change the course of a life for the better.

Where’s the “like” button for that?