Blog Archives

Opportunity Partners with Two Dollar Challenge: Student Program Makes Poverty a Reality

Opportunity International is pleased to announce our partnership with Two Dollar Challenge (TDC), an organization based out of the University of Mary Washington (UMW) in Fredericksburg, Va. The program, where students live or eat on just $2 per day for one week, raises money for Opportunity Trust Groups in Kenya and Colombia through our peer-to-peer lending website, OptINnow. This initiative Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Introducing #Mifimon 2010!

Interested in learning about microfinance? Follow our biweekly discussion group #mifimon (because Microfinance Mondays was too long for Twitter’s 140-character limit). Our aim is to host an exchange of ideas about issues relevant to the microfinance industry. You’re welcome to lend your voice, whether you’re a practitioner in the field or a newbie just learning Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work
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Top 5 Reasons Urbana Rocks!

I just spent a week with 16,000 amazing people, sharing about microfinance, listening to countless stories, and enjoying the energy that comes with being around people who want to make an impact. I’d like to share a few of the highlights as we enter into the new year:  1. The Students. Seriously, every day I Read more…

Posted in Events, Faith in Action, Our Motivation, Our Work
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Opportunity International at Urbana 2009

Hello from St. Louis! To create some context, on Sunday, the downtown area of St. Louis nearly doubled in size. And a couple of us from Opportunity International are spending this week with over 16,000 university and high school students from over 100 countries at Intervarsity’s conference- Urbana 2009. You can feel the energy when Read more…

Posted in Events, Faith in Action, Our Motivation, Our Work
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#Mifimon: Microfinance and Technology

The following is a collaborative post from Grameen Foundation’s Edward Cable and Opportunity International’s Amy Carol Wolff. Moderators: @amycarolwolff @mifos Panelists: @bhalchander @creditsms @GrameenAppLab @msftcitizenship Participants: @aaspire @hanacaraka @microempowering @HoracioCoutino @laurakummer @licorous @zyozyfounder @mongkolroek @RealizedWorth @CIPEglobal @CFI_ACCION @digitalkulcha @AJRenold @Optinnow The topic from this past #Mifimon: strategic use of technology for microfinance.  Technology and innovation Read more…

Posted in Technology
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Microfinance Movie Night: Indiana University

Last night I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Indiana U’s Trockman Microfinance Initiative (TMI) at an event where they reported on their recent trip to Opportunity International’s office in Oak Brook and then we enjoyed an hour-long movie highlighting the microfinance industry. I have to say, I was impressed with Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Work
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#Mifimon Preview: Women and Microfinance

Next week we have the privilege of discussing how microfinance is changing the lives of women around the world. We’ve got a pretty dynamic panel coming to this as well. Below, you’ll find their bios and thus, have the chance to learn more about them as we prepare for next week. We look forward to Read more…

Posted in Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Will You Take a Stand?

On October 17th, will you take a stand to support International Day for the Eradication of Poverty? For the next 5 days we’ve issued a challenge. 1. On behalf of the 2.6 billion people that live in abject poverty, we are asking at least 26 people per day to purchase a virtual patch on the Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Work
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#Mifimon: Microfinance in Your Backyard

Twitter folks present (in alphabetical order): @AJRenold, @amycarolwolff, @Grameen_DC, @ianscotthaisley, @lethalsheethal, @lend4health, @optinnow, @rarenaud, @robgarciasj, @savetogether This week’s call to action: Find an article on U.S. microfinance and post it as a response to this blog and on our #Mifimon facebook page. Have a conversation with a friend or colleague about U.S. microfinance and tell Read more…

Posted in Loans, Microinsurance, Our Work, Technology, Training
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Real-Time Conversation. Real-Time Impact. #Mifimon

One of the things I love about Twitter is that you’re able to experience real-time industry developments and thought exchange. I love seeing people discuss social entrepreneurship, music, literature and food.   Individuals can discover new resources that help grow their knowledge of the world and space in which they operate. It is truly fascinating. This Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Work
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