Stories
What We’re Reading: “Women Find Freedom through Land Ownership”
Every Wednesday, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following post explores a Nov. 7th article on mediaglobal.org, an independent media organization based in the U.N. that raises awareness on issues related to economic…
Read MoreGlobal Poverty on College Campuses: The Two Dollar a Day Challenge
Today, Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, manager of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) presented about Opportunity’s partnership with the Two Dollar Challenge (TDC)organization to the Development Assistance Task Force at the U.S. Summit for Global Citizenship. Here are a few highlights from Sonya’s presentation… At Opportunity, we feel strongly that young adults in the U.S. have the skills, broad worldview and passion to help end global poverty during their lifetimes. So we’ve created several…
Read MoreU.S. Summit for Global Citizenship Starts Tomorrow!
Tomorrow, the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy begins in Washington, D.C. More than 100 NGO leaders working in nine task force groups on a number of topics, including business and development assistance, have solicited and vetted hundreds of proposals from citizen diplomacy organizations, and selected ten top organizations to present in each task force. More than 500 people are expected to attend the summit. NGOs were called upon to present projects that highlight ways…
Read MoreDouble Your Business’s Impact on Global Poverty with Caterpillar’s Matching Grant
Investing in microfinance through Opportunity International is the best, most efficient way that we’ve found through all of our philanthropic investments to make progress possible in the lives of people who need our help most. - Caterpillar Foundation Vice President Will Ball Caterpillar Foundation announces an aggressive, year-end $1 million challenge grant that will enable corporations and small businesses around the globe to double the impact of their donations to Opportunity. Now through…
Read MoreMicrofinance Loan Officers Go Green with Electronic Bikes
Opportunity International’s loan officers are going green. They are traveling to loan client locations with the assistance of electric bicycles. If electric cars are the epitome of a culture that is constantly trying to reduce its carbon footprint, then electric bicycles (e-bikes) rank in the same category. That’s why Daryl Skoog, Opportunity International’s SVP of technology, is so enthused about deploying e-bikes to the field. According to Skoog, “With ourrural expansions, we recognized…
Read MoreNews from ONE: Rwanda gives $1 million to the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria
The following is a blog post published on the ONE Campaign’s blog yesterday, Nov. 10, written by Malaka Gharib. Here’s some really cool news–we just caught wind that Rwanda is donating $1 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to a press release, Rwanda is the fourth African country to contribute to this year’s replenishment, which has received $11.7 billion in commitments from both the private and public sector for the next three years. “Even…
Read MoreMeet Opportunity Tanzania Microfinance Client Jumanne
The following report is by AJ Renold, YAO’s multimedia reporter on the ground in Tanzania. In September, I had the privilege of meeting one of Opportunity Tanzania’s most interesting clients. His name is Jumanne and he is truly a special person. Jumanne is in the Trust Group called Tausi Group. Having only finished two loan cycles, he is a new member of the Trust Group, where most members have had ten or more loans in the past few years. Trust Groups are aptly named: when a group of individuals…
Read MoreWhat We’re Watching: Podcast on Mobile Phone Banking from Gates Foundation
There’s an opportunity for banking to be an innovator. To take advantage of technology that’s out there to solve the problem of how do we serve clients in a more cost-effective way, closer to where they live.-From the podcast: “Efforts by Banks: OIBM, Part 2″ in the series “Mobile Money-Mobile Banking“ Tamara Cook, program officer, Financial Services for the Poor in the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, speaks about the development and growth of mobile…
Read MoreWhat We’re Reading: Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women Initiative in The Washington Post
Every Wednesday, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following post highlights piece in Sunday’s Washington Post entitled “Goldman Sachs Program Raises Up Women Worldwide” by Kathleen Parker. “Every morning,…
Read MoreStand Up For Africa’s Farmers
When times are tough, it’s important to stay focused on what matters to you. At Opportunity, we remain focused on delivering microfinance services that make a real impact on our clients living in very difficult economic situations. In particular, our agricultural finance programs in Africa enable smallholder farmers to pay their bills throughout the growing season, helping them avoid short-selling crops for less than their value just to make ends meet until the harvest. Ways you can help: Make…
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