Blog Archives

Conference LiveBlog: Geoffrey Thige, COO of Opportunity Kenya

Geoffrey Thige, the dynamic chief operating officer of Opportunity International Kenya, shares from the conference mainstage all about the work and progress Opportunity Kenya has made, utilizing solutions that include mobile phone banking, microinsurance, financial literacy training and more to help clients build a better life. Highlights from Geoff Thige In Kenya, we have 39 Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Our Motivation, Our Work, Resources, Savings, Technology, Where We Work
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Breakout Session: Developing the Next Generation of Microfinance Bankers

Recruiting, hiring and retaining key staff–from loan officers to CEOs–who are technically excellent and who embrace a culture of serving people living in poverty with client-centered products is critical to our success. Find out more about Opportunity International’s partnership with Credit Suisse to build a comprehensive leadership and staff development initiative across our operations in Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Strategic Partners
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Breakout Session: From Silicon Valley to Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations Shaping the World

Rob Meloche, Opportunity’s VP of marketing and communications, got the afternoon breakout session started by asking the members in the panel to place the conversation about innovation and technology in the context of the developing world. Each of the members in the panel contributed interesting reflections. Here are the highlights: Steven Levy, senior writer of Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Technology, Where We Work
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Conference LiveBlog: Nadine Pembele, Head of Training at Opportunity DR Congo

This third and final plenary session of the day opens with remarks by Mary Lynn Staley, chair of the Opportunity International Board of Governors. She introduces Nadine Pembele, Head of Training for Opportunity International in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Highlights from Nadine Pembele’s Presentation I am very honored to have the opportunity to Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Board of Governors, Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership, Where We Work
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Watch it Live! Opportunity International Conference Video Stream Starts Friday 8:30 a.m. PST

Unable to join us in person for the Opportunity International Conference? No problem. Just tune in tomorrow-Friday, Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m. PST–as we stream live video from the conference until Saturday, Oct. 15 at 12:00 p.m. Go to opportunity.org/live to watch it live. Here are just a few of the plenary and breakout session Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership, Strategic Partners
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What We’re Watching: Banking on Education Video by Students of the World at CGI 2011

We’re watching this video produced in partnership with Students of the World, which had its world premiere on the main stage at this year’s CGI. In it, Opportunity staff and clients discuss the goals and the impact of our Banking on Education program, which provides , and to 280 schools serving 120,000 students in Malawi, Uganda and Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Our Work, Resources, Savings, Training, Where We Work
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Mobile Phone Banking & Technology: Learn from Microfinance Experts

Geoffrey Thige, chief operations officer of Opportunity International Kenya, arrived at our Oak Brook, Ill. offices this week–his first stop in a U.S. tour that culminates as a guest speaker at Opportunity’s conference in San Francisco, Oct. 14-15. With over 15 years of experience in microfinance, COO Thige oversees Transformation, IT, Risk/Compliance and Special Projects Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, Our Work, Technology, Where We Work
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Photo Journey of Meeting Microfinance Clients in Rwanda and Uganda

Uganda- A young girl (right) welcomes an Opportunity International visitor from the floor of her father’s shop in a Kampala market. Her young father is an enterprising entrepreneur and Trust Group member who runs a small boutique that sells both new and old clothes, mattresses, and small luggage. Business is good, he reports, and he Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Loans, Local Staffing, Rural Outreach, Training, Trust Groups, Where We Work
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Meet Thomas, a Loan Officer in Moshi, Tanzania

Meet Thomas. Thomas is a loan officer in the Moshi branch of Opportunity Tanzania. When I asked him about himself he said he likes hip hop music, traveling, and helping out clients. His Trust Group adores him, as they should, he is a wonderful man who helps out whenever possible. We talked about some of Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Local Staffing, Trust Groups, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Unlocking Potential Through the Power of Education

Opportunity’s financial products, educational programs and business training help impoverished families, especially women, develop their capacity to the fullest. Where poverty is the way of life, people’s potential is often overshadowed by the struggle to survive. But when equipped with the right tools, even the most vulnerable are able to change their own world and create a better future for their Read more…

Posted in Local Staffing, Our Work, Resources, Strategic Partners, Training, Where We Work
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