Stories
Vicki Escarra Featured Guest at cabi Bi-Annual Meeting
Opportunity International Global CEO Vicki Escarra was a featured guest at the cabi bi-annual meeting recently in Orlando, Fla. Cabi is America’s largest social-selling apparel company with approximately 3,400 Stylists nationwide. The Heart of cabi Foundation has partnered with Opportunity International to help thousands of women around the world rise up and create bigger, brighter lives through its W.E. are cabi program, which stands for Women Entrepreneurs Helping Women Entrepreneurs. During…
Read MoreMeet Sara Freer
This month, we sat down with Opportunity Governor and Young Ambassador Sara Freer to learn a bit more about her and why she supports Opportunity International. Allison: Hi Sara! Why don't you tell us a little bit more about yourself? Sara: My name is Sara Freer. I work for New England Research & Management - an investment management firm headquartered here in Chicago. We manage all aspects of our clients' finances - from financial planning and asset allocation to the nuts and bolts of buying and…
Read More#TBT to MCON 2015 with CEO Vicki Escarra
Last month, Opportunity International Global CEO Vicki Escarra took the stage as a keynote speaker at The Millennial Impact Conference (MCON). This year, MCON focused on influence - and featured leaders who are "activating people for good." Alongside other speakers like Daniel Lubetzky of KIND, Mark Roberge of O.A.R., Jonathan Neman of sweetgreen and Gary Knell of National Geographic, Vicki shared how her career has been one of influence - and how Opportunity International is changing lives around…
Read MoreMobile Insurance: Comparing Low-Touch and High-Touch Distribution Models
This article, written by Richard Leftly of MicroEnsure, originally appeared on gsma.com as part of their series on mobile insurance. Mobile insurance has established itself as one of the fastest-growing business models in mobile financial services in emerging markets. Although MicroEnsure did not invent mobile insurance, many of the fastest-growing models are now based on the “freemium” product we built for Tigo Ghana in 2010, which has since launched in 13 other markets across Africa and…
Read MoreFarming For Africa's Future
“Three quarters of the world’s poor and chronically hungry people live in rural areas and are also mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs could contribute much more to producing food, job creation, national economic growth, and the preservation of natural resources. Yet they often lack the tools to do so. And many of those who are producers of food go hungry themselves. Investment in rural development is key to delivering a host of development…
Read More#TBT to Global Money Week
In March, Opportunity Malawi participated in Global Money Week. This week, for Throwback Thursday (#TBT), we are remembering this year's event. When thinking about the importance of financial awareness, it can be quite overwhelming at first. Managing money can definitely be difficult; I often feel a pang of panic whenever I take a quick peak at my bank account. Despite this, it is incredibly important for children and adults alike to start becoming mindful of the importance of financial stability…
Read MoreMeet Arnest, A Community Leader
This summer, we are exploring the path from Farm to Table - exploring the many issues smallholder farmers face around the world. After working in the telecom sector for one year, Arnest Sebbumba realized that there was something missing from his life. He looked around his community in the Kayunga District of Uganda and noticed that changes needed to be made - a lot of changes. So he took action. Arnest left his family home to attend The Uganda Institute of Information and Technology in Kampala,…
Read MoreAfrica Feeding Itself
This summer, we are exploring the path from Farm to Table - exploring the many issues smallholder farmers face around the world. In this year’s Gates Annual Letter, Bill and Melinda Gates described five big breakthroughs that they think will happen in the next 15 years. The second of these five? That Africa will be able to feed itself. Currently, American farmers get five times as much maize from their land as African farmers do. But with the introduction of higher-quality inputs and innovative…
Read MoreMeet Lucia Enacio
This summer, we are exploring the path from Farm to Table - exploring the many issues smallholder farmers face around the world. The life of a farmer and a mother are not so different. Between planting, nourishing, waiting, and protecting, both jobs are equally demanding, while remaining unconditionally rewarding. Farmers may raise crops and mothers their children, but both desire growth and prosperity as their ultimate outcome. Lucia Enacio raises both. As a mother to nine lively children and…
Read MoreUrban Gardening: Lessons from Learning to Grow
This summer, we are exploring the path from Farm to Table - exploring the many issues smallholder farmers face around the world. Last summer, my big project was to plant a garden. As someone with a historically black thumb, my little garden was a big challenge. I tried to choose “easy” plants – plants that would grow despite my best efforts. I planted mint and basil and rosemary. Lavender and thyme. I even attempted a strawberry plant. I watched and I waited all summer long as my little seeds…
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