Stories
Schools Are Not Just For Children
People assume that the most important thing a quality school can do is to equip the next generation of children with the relevant skills they need to find gainful and meaningful employment. Children learn to read and write in the classroom - they learn to think, analyze and present information. They learn the skills they need to work and provide for themselves as they grow. But while the future employment potential of each child is indeed a very important and noble cause, it is not the only benefit…
Read MoreTransforming the Next Generation
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda to meet our clients and staff. While there I met Rwamubende, an Opportunity client and cattle farmer in rural Uganda. Rwamubende has a serious exterior but a big heart. He proudly showed us his ever-growing farm and introduced us to the many farmhands he employs. When we took his photo, we teased, “Seca! Seca!” (“Smile!” in Luganda) and he laughed at our accents. He explained how Opportunity allowed him to build a new home to replace…
Read MoreThe Rift Valley
Running along the eastern part of the African continent, the Rift Valley is a prominent geological feature. Originally thought to extend from Jordan to Mozambique, geologists now note that the full Rift Valley is comprised of several smaller Rifts – including what is now considered the East Africa Rift, extending from the Afar Depression in Ethiopia to Mozambique. Unlike traditional valleys created by rivers or other forms of erosion, Rift Valleys are created by shifts in the tectonic plates of…
Read MoreMeet Engelberto
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:20-22 Engelberto and his family lived in rural Colombia on a small farm near the village of Maria La Baja until one fateful day when everything changed. Hoping to be among the first to arrive at the marketplace in the morning to take advantage of early risers at his market stall, he jumped on the first bus before light. However, a group…
Read MoreGood Friday
Good Friday is a day that challenges many of us. We want to skip ahead to the joy and new life of Easter. However, that joy cannot be fully realized apart from the deep pain of the preceding Friday. Today, we think about that pain and the love it took to endure. But for Jesus’ disciples and followers, that pain was even deeper because on the very first Good Friday, they could not see that new life was just two days away. All they could see was hope dashed. A devotion I recently read discusses the…
Read MoreEaster and Rwanda
When I think about Easter, I think about "re". Rebirth. Restoration. Reconciliation. Redemption. And I think about where I have seen these beautiful things in action. I fell in love with East Africa while working in Rwanda in 2011. Beyond the rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, the true beauty of Rwanda was in the people. Wide, bright smiles greet you everywhere you go and sweet children hold your hand as you walk down the street. It’s a country that has the sneaky ability to totally…
Read MoreFarmers Working to Feed Their Families
For many people living in extreme poverty, food scarcity is real - and feeding their families is an all-consuming, top-of-mind priority. It's not about preference or variety or deliciousness - it's about calories and energy and nutrients. It's about filling children's bellies so that they can go to school and learn. It's about eating enough to provide needed energy to make it through the day. It's about survival. Opportunity's agricultural entrepreneurs are working to improve the quantity and…
Read MoreA Reflection on the Occasion of World Water Day
I drank the water. There’s a reason a hotel in a place like this stocks at least four bottles of sealed water with each turndown. It’s not a surprise to find zero tumblers sitting rim-down next to the bathroom sink just waiting to be used. This is a Nice Hotel - perhaps the best in the city (country?) - and still the message is clear: In a hotel in a city in a country on a continent like this, you still don’t drink the water. Sorry, bottles on the house. - mgmt So, of course, I drank the water. It…
Read MoreBasketball and Joining the Team
I am a huge March Madness fan. I love Davidson College basketball, so I'll be cheering for my Wildcats as they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight. But even if basketball isn't your thing, I think there are valuable lessons to be learned from the NCAA Tournament. Already we have seen major upsets this tournament. To me, these surprise victories remind me that anything is possible. And in my line of work at Opportunity International, I need all the reminders I can get that sometimes the underdog wins.…
Read MoreCharacteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
Last year, Forbes released the results of a study conducted by Gallup that surveyed over 1,000 people to discover 10 traits of successful entrepreneurs. I recently returned to this article and was struck by the characteristics they identified. These traits - things like confidence, determination and relationship-building - describe Opportunity International clients beautifully. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Opportunity's clients exemplify the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs,…
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