Stories
Meet Our Staff: 10 Questions with Lauren Hawley, New Board of Governors Manager
Lauren Hawley arrived at Opportunity three weeks ago, taking the role of the manager of the Board of Governors program. She’ll be working to grow the community and coordinate Governor activities, support Governor events, and strengthen this group of highly committed Opportunity supporters and champions. Get to know our newest team member, Lauren… 1. What did you do before you came here? I worked for a fundraising consulting agency named Douglas Shaw & Associates, formulating fundraising strategies…
Read MoreOpportunity Colombia Receives Operational Banking License, Bringing Microfinance to More Impoverished Colombians
On Friday, June 22, the Superintendency of Finance in Bogotá, Colombia, granted Opportunity International Colombia the final operational banking license it needs to be a deposit-taking and full service bank. Opportunity Colombia‘s CEO Enrique Ordonez and his staff began the process of applying for this license 18 months ago in January 2011, and through perseverance, financial support, and a lot of prayer, they have finally achieved this goal. Now the bank can take savings deposits and conduct…
Read MoreWin a Chance to See the World
Stand up to global poverty, expand your community and see the world. We’re launching a contest for members of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) to travel with us. YAO members who recruit three friends with their member referral link (check your email inboxes!), will be entered in a drawing to win a spot on the February 2013 YAO Insight Trip to India. The See the World contest runs until Sunday, September 30, 2012, and if we don’t reach the goal of 400 YAO members by then, the drawing will…
Read MoreMeet Our Staff: Our New Head of Education Finance, Nathan Byrd
This May, we welcomed Nathan Byrd as our new head of education finance. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, and reporting to Colin McCormack, managing director, Africa, Nathan will provide strategic direction and leadership for our education finance program, developing specialized financial tools for schools and families and forming strategic partnerships in the education sector. Nathan is currently in the process of reviewing Opportunity‘s entire education finance program to redefine and tailor our future…
Read MoreA Drumbeat and a Trust Group: My Trip to Tanzania
The following post is by actress Malin Akerman, who recently joined Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, from her March Insight Trip with her husband Roberto to see Opportunity’s work in Tanzania. In my last post I told you about how and why Roberto and I decided to take a trip with Opportunity International to Tanzania. Here’s a really brief recap of our trip, with highlights, insights and surprises. First, we travelled to Opportunity International’s Arusha branch to meet with the local staff…
Read MoreThe First Day of Summer & Transforming Communities through Solar Power
Today is the first day of summer, the summer solstice, here in the U.S. and our longest day of the year. Hopefully, you’re celebrating tonight with a picnic dinner, a barbeque, maybe an evening run or a walk to take full advantage of the extra minutes of daylight. But today also reminds us of the awesome potential power of the sun that can be harnessed by the people who need it most. Imagine your day ending when the sun goes down, whether that’s mid-afternoon in winter or late evening in summer.…
Read MoreWhat Makes a Good Father? Opportunity Colombia’s Chief Transformation Officer on Fatherhood and the Male Trust Group Project
Happy Father’s Day! As we celebrate with the fathers in our lives today, we’re examining what qualities make a good dad. For a group of our clients in a pilot project in Colombia, they’re examining that question in depth, and developing their leadership skills as men and fathers. In the post below, Jim Frantz, Opportunity Colombia‘s chief transformation officer, explains Opportunity’s Male Trust Group Project and the challenges of being a good father in any culture. Male Trust Group Project Opportunity…
Read MoreA Better Future for the Congo: Developing the Next Generation of Congolese Fathers
The following post by Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka, member of Opportunity’s Board of Directors, was originally published in The Huffington Post on Friday, June 15. The original post is here. My greatest challenge as a father has been the moments of terror when my children were gravely ill, and we thought we were going to lose them. It happened with my daughter and it happened with my son when they were young. Fortunately, they both survived. Growing up in the DR Congo, I’ve seen the toll that poverty,…
Read MoreOne-Year Anniversary of Grand Opening of Opportunity DRC
One year ago, Opportunity International celebrated the grand opening of its operations in the DR Congo with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the heart of Kinshasa’s Masina market. Three weeks ago, on Tuesday, May 22, 42 local and international staff, dignitaries and supporters gathered to celebrate the one-year anniversary of this milestone at a special luncheon in Kinshasa that received national television coverage. Among the attendees were the Governor of the DRC’s Central Bank; the U.S. Ambassador…
Read MoreA Story of Service: A Trust Group Helps Keep their Community Clean
Seventeen women make up Opportunity India’s Trust Group called Samudram. These women have received loans and training to grow their businesses and increase their income, bringing hope to their families for a brighter future. They celebrated their success by “paying it forward”–making a difference in their communities. Trash pickup is not a high priority in the slum area of Chennai, where they live and work, so garbage piles up and overflows from the municipal cans. The team of entrepreneurs…
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