Stories
LiveBlog: Plenary Session II-Richard Leftley, Claudia Kennedy and Sheryl WuDunn
This plenary session, featuring Richard Leftley, president of MicroEnsure; Claudia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the U.S. Army; and Sheryl WuDunn, best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize winner, discussed microinsurance, global security, and the empowerment of women through access to education and microfinance. Richard Leftley, president and CEO of MicroEnsure, explains how life insurance can protect clients when natural disasters or other crises hit. “It…
Read MoreLiveBlog: Plenary Session with Roger Thurow, the Gates Foundation’s Tamara Cook, Under Secretary of State María Otero and more
This very first plenary session kicks off our fall microfinance conference. It’s led byhttp://www.opportunity.org/blog/westmont-college-optinnow-event/A.T. Tshibaka[/intlink]; author and senior fellow for Global Agriculture and Food Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs,http://www.opportunity.org/blog/opportunity-liveblog-roger-thurows-global-food-for-thought/Roger Thurow[/intlink], and writer for the blog Outrage & Inspire; program officer for Financial Services for the Poor in the…
Read MoreStarting Tomorrow: Microfinance Experts and Supporters Gather at Opportunity’s Fall Microfinance Conference
More than 300 people are registered to attend Opportunity’s 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference in Washington, D.C. this weekend, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8-9. The conference includes a lineup of speakers from the public and private sectors, from within our organization and outside of it. And each will share their unique perspectives regarding the challenges we face as a global society in solving poverty and hunger. Have you registered to watch the live video stream of the plenary sessions? Go…
Read MoreWhat We’re Reading: 3 Writers Featured at our Fall Conference
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 three authors who will be featured at our 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8-9. 1. Roger Thurow The author…
Read More3 Things to Learn about Microfinance at our Fall Conference
If you would like to learn more about microfinance and global development, Opportunity’s microfinance conference is the event to attend. Join us for our 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference this weekend (Friday, Oct. 8-Saturday, Oct. 9) in Washington, D.C. Here are 3 exciting topics to learn about at our http://www.opportunity.org/opportunity-international-conference/fall conference[/intlink]: Microinsurance Our breakout session, “Stability in Times of Crisis: MicroEnsure,” offered Friday…
Read MoreWatch It Live: The 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference
If you can’t be with us this week for the 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference on Friday, Oct. 8-Saturday, Oct. 9 in Washington, D.C., you don’t have to miss out. We’ll be streaming live video from each of our four plenary sessions at the conference. Tune in to watch live video ofspeakers, including: Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize winner and co-author ofHalf the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Maria Otero, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Tamara…
Read MoreWestmont College Students Organize to Raise Funds for Opportunity
Last week, around 1,000 students of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. gathered for Chapel with special guest speaker Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka. Tshibaka, a member of the Opportunity International Board of Directors, inspired the students with his life story, speaking to them about growing up in poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo, telling them how he was given the opportunity to get an education and move to the U.S. to attend Dartmouth College. The story of A.T.‘s life…
Read MoreSpotlight from the Field: Naomi and her Royal Seed Orphanage
Naomi. I have never met a woman so determined to make a difference. Her bright eyes sparkled, her hands showed the toughness that comes from work, and from her mouth poured words of encouragement and empowerment. I had the pleasure to meet Naomi and tour her Royal Seed Orphanage in Ghana while on an Insight Trip for Opportunity International. She was the last in a series of meetings that day with entrepreneurs who had benefited from the power of microfinance. Only she was different. The young woman…
Read MoreWhat We’re Reading: What Is the What by Dave Eggers
By Allison Bearden, Resource Development Intern, Opportunity International 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 that we’ve highlighted. The following post is on Dave Eggers’ moving novel, What Is the What, about the real-life struggles…
Read MoreIrene D. Pritzker, and Attendees of World Leadership Forum Dinner, Reflect on her Global Philanthropy Award and the Work of IDP Rising Schools Program
“We have created a new way to educate millions of poor children – who like all children, have big dreams.” -Irene D. Pritzker, accepting the Global Philanthropy Award at the Foreign Policy Association World Leadership Forum Dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 On Wednesday night, Irene D. Pritzker, co-founder and president of IDP Foundation, Inc., was honored at the World Leadership Forum Dinner for her work with the IDP Rising Schools Program in Ghana. The IDP Rising Schools Program…
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