Blog Archives

The McDougals Celebrate 25 Years in the Opportunity International Family

In 25 years of supporting Opportunity International, Governors Fred and Nancy McDougal say they’ve received more than they’ve given. Fred, founder of textbook publishing giant McDougal Littell (now Holt McDougal), first learned of Opportunity from his friend Dave K. Hardin, a former Opportunity board chair. The McDougals would later honor their friend through generous contributions Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Donors, Insight Trips, Our Leadership, What We're Reading
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Opportunity Colombia’s Grand Opening Celebration as a Deposit-Taking Bank

Opportunity Colombia celebrated its grand opening event in Bogota last month. As a regulated financial institution, Opportunity Colombia can now offer a full range of financial services to its clients, including interest-bearing savings. By 2015 it aims to reach 60,000 Colombians who live at the base of the economic pyramid. With 150 attendees at the Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Client Stories, Donors, Events, Faith in Action, Loan officer, Local Staffing, Our Leadership, Our Work, Savings, Strategic Partners, T24, Technology, Where We Work
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Microfinance’s Risky Lending Is a Safe Bet

The following post by Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka, on our Board of Directors, was originally published on The Huffington Post. As I look at the microfinance industry globally, I’m encouraged by the trends and the progress we’ve achieved so far. Whether you search in Wikipedia, CGAP or MIX Market, whatever the source of the data and Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Bank Building, Education, In the News, Loans, Local Staffing, Microinsurance, Our Leadership, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Resources, Savings, Technology, Training, What We're Reading
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CEO Announcement Letter from Betty Jane Hess

The following post is written by Betty Jane Hess, chair of Opportunity’s Board of Directors, welcoming our incoming CEO Vicki Escarra. Dear Friends, I am pleased to announce that Opportunity International has completed its executive search, and I am delighted to introduce you to our new CEO, Vicki Escarra. Vicki is an exceptional leader, bringing Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership
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A Better Future for the Congo: Developing the Next Generation of Congolese Fathers

The following post by Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka, member of Opportunity’s , 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 Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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What We’re Reading: “Tapping into the Potential of the Unbanked in the DRC”

This post, “Tapping into the Potential of the Unbanked in the DRC,” was originally published Wednesday morning on ACCION International‘s Center for Financial Inclusion Blog, written by Kadita Tshibaka, a member of ‘s . Kadita was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and spent 33 years working around the world in Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Leadership, Our Work, Savings, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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Celebrating 40 Years of Microfinance with the “Holiday Fête” in Scottsdale, Arizona

On Tuesday evening, Dec. 6, 2011, the members of Opportunity International’s Arizona Board of Governors hosted the “Holiday Fête: Commemorating 40 Years of Client Impact and Transformation,” a 40th-anniversary celebration at the Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. “ is proud to celebrate our 40th year of working alongside our clients, staff and supporters to fight global poverty,” Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Insight Trips, Our Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Opportunity Celebrates 40 Years at “Side by Side” Gala in Minneapolis

Last Thursday night, more than 400 guests gathered at International Market Square in Minneapolis, Minn. to celebrate Opportunity International‘s 40th anniversary at a gala event, “Side by Side: Celebrating 40 Years of Opportunity.” The evening included entertainment by Minnesota resident and contemporary Christian singer Sara Groves and the African musical group Duniya Drum and Dance, Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Faith in Action, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Conference LiveBlog: Panel with David Simms, Promod Haque and Deborah Farrington

Saturday morning at the Opportunity International Conference opens with a panel featuring David Simms, Board Chair of Opportunity’s Global Microfinance Operations; Promod Haque, Managing Partner of Norwest Venture Partners (NVP); and Debby Farrington, founder and general partner of StarVest Partners, L.P. Highlights from the Session Discussion Questions: 1. With your philanthropy you have “invested” in Opportunity. Read more…

Posted in Events, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership
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Conference LiveBlog: Conference Opens with Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka, Board of Directors

The 2011 Opportunity International Conference“Innovating to End Poverty,” kicks off just moments ago with opening remarks from Lillian Covington, VP of Resource Development, and our CEO Bill Morgenstern, who welcomed attendees. Throughout the weekend, we’ll be streaming live video of plenary sessions and breakout sessions at the conference. Watch it live at opportunity.org/live. Welcoming attendees to Read more…

Posted in Events, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership, Where We Work
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