Blog Archives

Gender Integration highlighted at USAID Administrator Confirmation Hearing

We are pleased to share that on Wednesday, December 2nd at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Confirmation Hearing for Dr. Rajiv Shah, the nominee for USAID Administrator, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) posed a a question to Dr. Shah on gender integration, and specifically asked for Dr. Shah’s commitment to carry out gender integration as part Read more…

Posted in Loans, Training, Trust Groups, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Mifimon: BRAC’s "Microfinance Plus" Approach

The following is a guest post by Jessica Elisberg from Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX). Interested in learning about microfinance? Follow our biweekly Twitter discussion group #mifimon (because Microfinance Mondays was too long for Twitter’s 140-character limit!) The aim is to host an exchange of ideas about issues relevant to the microfinance industry. You’re welcome to Read more…

Posted in Microinsurance, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Live from the Smithonian Institution: One Hen Awarded Best Book for Young Children

The Outreach Council of the African Studies Association annually salutes the authors and illustrators of outstanding books about Africa published or distributed in the United States for young children and older readers.  Today, Katie Smith Milway’s One Hen: How One Loan Made a Big Difference is commended for the life lessons it instills in youth, Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Live from International Reading Association: One Hen sparks conversation among Educators

After a great morning with the students at Sidwell Friends School, I had the pleasure of joining Katie at the International Reading Association for an engaging panel discussion on Friday afternoon.  The evolution of One Hen and its transformation from text to technology has spawned a stimulating conversation amongst a panel of educators and their Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Teaching Children the Power of Microfinance: Sidwell Friend’s School in Washington D.C.

The 6th graders at Sidwell Friend’s School in Washington D.C. eagerly welcomed Katie Smith Milway this morning, author of children’s book, One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, a story that teaches children the power of microfinance to transform lives. This occasion marks the beginning of multiple events in D.C. this weekend Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Reaching a Younger Generation through Inspirational Children’s Book

You can never be too young to understand the power of microfinance.  Just ask Opportunity’s team of volunteers who bring lessons of microfinance to life in the classroom through One Hen, an award-winning children’s tale.  Championed by the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), the One Hen volunteer program seeks to connect Opportunity supporters with young children Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

This Quarter’s Book of Choice: Half the Sky

This quarter the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) and Opportunity International’s staff book clubs are diving into Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. A read that Melinda Gates calls “a brutal awakening and an unmistakable call to action”, Half the Sky captures one of our era’s most pervasive human rights violations: the Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Global Opportunity Quilt: Eradicating Poverty One Piece At a Time

Take a stand against Global Poverty on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Oct. 17 Did you know that everyday 2.6 billion people will wake up wondering how they’re going to feed, clothe and house their families on less than $2 a day? And have you heard that everyday 25,000 children—that’s one child Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , ,

Investing in Women and Girls

According the to the UN, women undertake 66% of the world’s work. They produce 50% of the worlds food. In spite of this, they earn only 10% of the world’s income. And they own only 1% of the world’s property. With statistics like these, it is no wonder that the Clinton Global Initiative emphasizes the Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , ,

Welcome

Welcome to the Opportunity International blog. We hope to build this site into a collaborative, informative and engaging destination where we can all learn more about microfinance and poverty eradication. What can you expect from the Opportunity blog? Look for posts from a variety of Opportunity authors. We’ll share information on developing countries where Opportunity serves, Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Tagged , , , ,