Stories
Taking a Bite Out of Poverty with Cookies for Change
The kitchen at Opportunity International’s U.S. headquarters was filled with the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked cookies; this was no ordinary day in the office. As the Cookie Monster sang recently, “You got cookie, so share it maybe,” and sharing was the theme of this cookie contest fundraiser organized by the summer interns. “Cookies for Change” tapped into employees’ love of sweets, their generosity and their competitive spirit to aid in Opportunity’s fight to empower individuals…
Read MoreMeet Our Staff: Join the Online Conversation with Our Team
My first real experience with microfinance was in a Rwandan hospital. It was a little over a year ago, and I was on a three-week educational trip to Rwanda. One of our first days there, my group and I were introduced to a Trust Group of about eight women, all of whom had been widowed, some by the 1994 Genocide or by AIDS. Although their peace and joy in the midst of such pain impressed me, I was most overwhelmed by the ambition and generosity shown through their actions as microfinance clients.…
Read MoreWhat We’re Pinning: Farming Around the World
A lot of our work focuses on smallholder farmers—helping them increase productivity, build food security, and giving them the financial tools they need to succeed. So this week on Pinterest, we wanted to share our favorite agriculture pins in honor of farmers around the world who work so hard to provide food for their communities. Woman working on a chili farm in India. Farmer harvesting coffee in Colombia. A fistful of wheat = life. Photo by ONE.org. Tulbagh Valley Olive Farm in South Africa. Banaue…
Read MoreGetting to Know the Community
Microfinance is more than just loans and savings and business—it’s a way forward for many families with few resources and little hope. Opportunity strives to understand the local communities and to get to know the families who are improving their lives through our tools. This is my second post in a multi-part blog series about a new branch in Kyenjojo, Uganda, to give you a firsthand look at how and why we serve the local community there. In February of this year, I traveled to Uganda with an…
Read MoreOur Cover Star: Meet the Annual Report’s Annie Nyangomba of the DRC
Annie Nyangomba is a 38-year-old mother of two who lives in Kinshasa, DR Congo. The smiling face of this client graces the cover of our 2011 Annual Report as she holds out her finger to be read biometrically at the Kinshasa branch of Opportunity's newest microfinance operations, Opportunity DRC. With support from the UNCDF, it’s one of the few places in the developing world offering this powerful technology, which requires only a fingerprint-embedded ID card to access an account. Even clients who…
Read MoreWhat We’re Reading: Dr. Paul Farmer in Mountains Beyond Mountains
Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” I have this quote on my desk, handwritten on a blue Post-it note. Sometimes when I read it, I feel an inexplicable urge to straighten my posture and focus my attention more intently on my computer monitor. I suddenly want to be fully aware of my surroundings so I don’t miss any opportunities that may present themselves. But… what exactly is an opportunity and why does missing…
Read More“Hitting the Road” to Reach Rural Clients
Today, we are reaching the most marginalized families with a fleet of 23 mobile banking vans! Opportunity invests in mobile banks to deliver high-impact financial services to the most marginalized Africans living in rural areas. For many, this is their first experience with banking. With nearly all the capabilities of a bank branch, the armored vehicles enable clients to deposit their savings and access their accounts within walking distance of their homes or businesses. They don’t have to travel…
Read MoreWhat We’re Pinning: Our Favorite Global Recipes this Week on Pinterest
Pinterest is all about recipes. Finding them, sharing them, and then enjoying them are all part of the fun. Here are some of our favorite recipes from – or inspired by – a few of the countries where we work. Try some out and let us know what you think! “Mexican” Lasagna. Pancit Cabagan from the Philippines. Indian Panna Cotta. Colombian Chicken Soup Recipe. Piri Piri Shrimp from Mozambique. Malva Pudding from South Africa.
Read MoreIt’s an Honor Just to Be Nominated
We’re excited to share that our Global Opportunity Quilt in honor of Mother’s Day was selected as the regional winner for the Most Creative Fundraiser in the Classy Awards! This means that Opportunity’s quilt is one of the four fundraisers in the running to be named the national winner in this category. You can find the other regional finalists in all categories listed here. Thank you so much to everyone who created a tribute patch for a woman in their life on the Global Opportunity Quilt,…
Read MoreEquipping a Community for Future Success 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 Opportunity works, we strive to understand the local communities and to get to know the families who use our resources. This is the first in a multi-part blog series about a new branch in Kyenjojo, Uganda, which I visited in February one month prior to its opening. This first blog will start by introducing the foundational concepts that inform our work.…
Read More