Stories
Why I’m Living Below the Line
Allison manages Young Ambassadors for Opportunity at Opportunity International and is Living Below the Line for Opportunity from April 29-May 3. At my desk at the Opportunity International office, I have surrounded myself with words and images that inspire me. There are photos of my friends and family—people who have provided for me, supported me, and challenged me to become the person I am today. There is a very large calendar full of all of the activities of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity…
Read MoreWhat We’re Reading: Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams
Africa is the next frontier for banks from all corners of the globe. Last week, The Economist aptly portrayed both the high hope and sheer uncertainty felt by financial institutions serving the African continent in Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams. A number of the article’s key points are central to both why and how we operate our African banks: Africa’s Immense Potential. According to The Economist, approximately one quarter of African adults use formal banking and just 3% have credit…
Read MoreRedefining Food Choices – Living Below the Line
Last year, Young Ambassador for Opportunity Allison Altdoerffer Lived Below the Line for Opportunity International. The following is a guest post by Allison about her experience. Join her take the challenge April 29-May 3, 2013. I consider myself to be a very thrifty shopper. I buy in bulk, keep an eye out for special markdowns and cut costs by threading similar ingredients across my weekly menu. So when our local YAO chapter decided to take the Live Below the Line challenge last year, committing…
Read More3 Ways Opportunity International Will Tackle Poverty in Mozambique This Year
Opportunity Mozambique is providing over 57,000 impoverished clients with loans, savings and insurance to catalyze sustainable economic development across the country. In 2013, Banco Oportunidade de Moçambique (BOM) will reach more impoverished families through the following three strategies, among others: Investing in Savings Expansion with New Products and Promotions. Savings help protect low-income families against shocks, smooth household consumption, enhance business productivity and empower…
Read MoreA Day in the $1.50 Life
Young Ambassador for Opportunity member Joe Sandler Lived Below the Line last year. He recounts his experience here. Join Opportunity supporters and Young Ambassadors like Joe in Living Below the Line for Opportunity April 29-May 3 2013. Spend less than $1.50 a day on food and drink in honor of the 1.4 billion people who survive on less than $1.50 a day every day. Live Below the Line so that others can rise above it. Unofficially, it is the first day that I am attempting to “Live below the Line,”…
Read More#Mifimon: Microfinance and Higher Education
The following is a guest post from Andres Hammer, an intern at MF Transparency. Our mid-February #mifimon topic was: “microfinance and higher education.” One of the panelists was Chuck Waterfield @chuckwaterfield, who has 25 years of experience in microfinance, is on the faculty of Columbia University/SIPA, and is CEO & president of MicroFinance Transparency. Chuck’s course at SIPA teaches “how to build an MFI” and focuses on business planning, decision making and financial modeling…
Read MoreOpportunity International joins forces with Carly Fiorina’s One Woman Initiative
Opportunity International today announced a dynamic partnership with Carly Fiorina and the One Woman Initiative to empower an additional two million women living in poverty through financial resources, education and training to build sustainable futures. As a Global Ambassador to Opportunity International, Fiorina will lend her voice and influence to Opportunity’s efforts to build a network of women investing in women to end the cycle of poverty. Now under Opportunity’s umbrella, the One Woman…
Read MoreLiving and Giving with Reckless Abandon
Opportunity International supporter Deyl Kearin knows a little something about adventure. Last October, Deyl set out to run 250 kilometers across the Sahara Desert to raise money for Opportunity’s clients working their way out of poverty around the world. As part of the Sahara Race, Deyl braved the heat of the desert for six days in honor of people facing even greater challenges. “Being involved with Opportunity for the last decade has helped me realize that as extreme as my circumstances will…
Read MoreSix Questions with Opportunity International’s Technical Proposal Writer Allison Bearden
How long have you worked at Opportunity? I began in August 2010 as an intern and I accepted my current job in May 2011, so I’ve been in this position for a little over one and a half years. What career path led you here? I went to Westmont College, back home in California (I grew up in San Diego). I was a political science major and loved my international studies classes. I became deeply interested in microfinance when I learned about it in an international development class. While in college,…
Read More150,000 people displaced by Flooding in Chokwe, Mozambique
Flooding of up to six feet has ravaged homes and businesses in Chokwe, Mozambique over the past week, killing 38 people and displacing over 150,000. According to Opportunity Mozambique’s head of branch network, Lusungu Kaunda, “The office is badly damaged and more importantly, over half of our 2,600 clients in the rural village have lost their homes and/or businesses due to the rising waters and subsequent looting. Thirteen of our 15 staff have literally lost everything. We have moved them to…
Read More