Leading by example in the field of microfinance.ACCION International thinks big in very small increments. The microfinance nonprofit and its partners are trying to make loans to 6 million impoverished borrowers by 2011-roughly a hundred bucks at a time. The microloans help owners of established small businesses (from a handicraft store in Guatemala to a beverage stand in Nigeria) expand their enterprises.They're making good headway: In the past year, the nearly 50-year-old organization helped loan $5.14 billion to nearly 4 million people in 24 countries, mostly in Latin America. With a 97 percent repayment rate and 65 percent of the loans going to women, ACCION is arguably one of the world's most successful microfinance organizations. In fact, President Obama recently tapped María Otero, ACCION chief executive since 2000, to become undersecretary of global affairs at the State Department.ACCION's primary investments are in other microfinance organizations, which it coaches to profitability. (The Boston-based institution itself only loans to low- and middle-income Americans running businesses with five employees or fewer.) ACCION also trains commercial financial institutions, such as Haiti's largest bank, Sogebank, on how to make loans in amounts as small as $27. In a country where 80 percent of the population lives in poverty, the Haitian bank's service arm, Sogesol, had nearly 12,000 clients with $28 million in loans disbursed by the end of 2007. To cover the cost of lending, ACCION and its more than 30 partners charge borrowers between 20 and 85 percent interest on their loans. "Making sure that microfinance institutions are profitable so that they can expand their client outreach is a key goal," says Bruce MacDonald, ACCION's vice president of communications.So is leading by example though cutting-edge pilot projects. This August, ACCION will launch China's very first microfinance program in Inner Mongolia.CORRECTION: This piece originally identified Bruce MacDonald as Brian MacDonald.Return to interactive site
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This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.