Stories
Starting a New Branch in Kyenjojo, Uganda: Building Community Relationships
Microfinance is more than just loans and savings and business—it’s a way forward for many families with few resources and little hope. Wherever we work, we strive to understand the local communities and to get to know the families who use our resources. This is my fourth in a six-part blog series that explores how we serve the families of Kyenjojo, Uganda. In communities where formal banking is uncommon or nonexistent, community education is key to building trust and engagement in the services…
Read MoreWhat We’re Watching: Banking on Education in Ghana
Forty-six million African children have never set foot in a classroom. That’s why we offer education finance initiatives in Malawi, Uganda and in Ghana, where access to school fee loans and school proprietor loans help to create a better future for children and educators at local neighborhood schools. Get to know why we work in Ghana with an introduction to our education finance program in this Banking on Education video, created in partnership with Students of the World: Banking on Education from…
Read MoreWhat We’re Pinning: Women’s Empowerment
We believe that one of the keys to poverty eradication is the empowerment of women. Women represent 70% of those living on less than $2 a day, but typically spend 90% of their income on their families. So in honor of all the hardworking and courageous women around the world, here are some of our favorite pins about women’s empowerment from this week. To help an entire the community, start with the women (via Women’s World Banking). A powerful woman who makes a difference! Manal al-Sharif, on…
Read MoreEmpowering Women & Girls Around the World with Half the Sky
Though microfinance is available to both men and women entrepreneurs, the gains that women achieve are almost three times more likely to be reinvested in their children—providing a powerful generational multiplier that accelerates economic growth. A woman will spend 90% of her income on her family, while men typically spend only 35%. That’s why if we want to change the world, we need to focus on providing women with economic opportunities. “One of the best ways to fight poverty is to educate…
Read MoreRanked One of Philanthropedia’s Top Microfinance Organizations for 2012
This week, we were honored to learn that a group of 72 experts identified Opportunity International as one of 11 high-impact nonprofits working in the field of international microfinance. As a result, Philanthropedia has chosen to highlight us as one of their ranked microfinance organizations on their website and on GuideStar’s Take Action site. There, Philanthropedia’s analysis states: “Microfinance experts believe that Opportunity International is innovative in developing new products and…
Read MoreMeeting Each of Us Where We Are
Rich McClure, a member of Opportunity’s Board of Governors, wrote the following post about his Insight Trip last week to India. As I finished an impactful Insight Trip to see Opportunity’s operations in Chennai, India, I was convicted again by Jesus’s example of meeting people where they are. No matter how a person regards Jesus–as a stranger, great teacher, gifted prophet or Lord–He meets each of us in our circumstances. To the Hindus, Muslims and people of other faiths, or no faith, in…
Read MoreMeet Our Staff: Starting a New Chapter with the Governors
In October 2011, I took a leap of faith leaving some amazing friends and the fast pace of New York City to come back to my sweet hometown of Chicago. I achieved wonderful things in my career, coordinating conferences for 150-2,500 people, special events, outings, and managing a state of the art conference center for Goldman Sachs. In seven years, I traveled across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East with an amazing team and now it was time for a new adventure. I’m thrilled to be back…
Read MoreWhat We’re Pinning: Words to Live By
What is it about a good quote that captures our attention and tugs at our heartstrings? Pinterest is full of quotes—some funny, some sad, and many are truly inspirational. So here’s a few of our favorite quotes we found on Pinterest this week. We hope they’ll inspire you too! Good reminder from Sevenly. Inspiration from Mother Teresa. Well said. Let’s work together to empower women! (Pin from Half the Sky). Compelling insight from J.R.R. Tolkien, via Invisible Children. Important…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Needs of Farmers in Kyenjojo, Uganda
Microfinance is more than just loans and savings and business—it’s a way forward for many families with few resources and little hope. Wherever we work, we strive to understand the local communities and to get to know the families who use our resources. This is my third in a six-part blog series that explores how we serve the families of Kyenjojo, Uganda. The Kyenjojo area is agriculturally diverse with crops such as tea, coffee, bananas, pineapples, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize and many others.…
Read MoreOur Hearts Go Out to Those Affected by Floods in the Philippines
I was just in a market a few weeks ago when my husband, children and I went home to visit our families in the Philippines. We were admiring and appreciating the many beautiful handicrafts the Filipinos create so well. My daughters and I went from stall to stall and we could not decide which trinkets and artisan creations to buy as souvenirs–they all looked so beautiful! There were more than 100 stalls selling different kinds of merchandise, and now there are hundreds of thousands of families around…
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