Blog Archives

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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Breakout Session: Stand Up for Opportunity

I sat down to listen to a panel of Opportunity International volunteers and contributors to hear their thoughts and best practices on how they share and involve their own communities in Opportunity’s mission. Each panel member shared their own journey with Opportunity and how they came to be involved. Though unified in passion, each contributor’s Read more…

Posted in Events, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership, Our Motivation, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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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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Conference LiveBlog: Karen and Ronnie Lott, of Opportunity International’s Board of Governors

At the final presentation of this morning’s first plenary session of the conference, philanthropists Ronnie and Karen Lott, members of Opportunity International’s Board of Governors, spoke about what brought them to support Opportunity, their life-changing experience meeting client Talekeleni Kagaso on an Insight Trip to Malawi, and why they’re passionate about helping people in poverty. Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Loans, Microfinance Conference, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work
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Faith in Action: Opportunity Supporter Walks 500 Miles of Christian Pilgrimage El Camino de Santiago

With just 50 miles to go, Opportunity International supporter Ann Loar Brooks is about to complete a 500-mile walk for Ugandan women. Ann began her journey on August 27th, hiking the last 500 miles of the Christian pilgrimage El Camino de Santiago, which starts from southern France and winds through the Pyrenees across northern Spain. Her mission: to raise awareness Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Faith in Action, Our Work, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Day 4: “Dream Big” – Opportunity Colombia Empowers Young Entrepreneurs, Mothers, Trust Groups & More through Microfinance

The following travel post was written by Jeannette Stewart, a member of the Opportunity International Board of Governors living in Maryland. This week, Jeannette is traveling with her son on the Opportunity Family Week Insight Trip to Colombia. Other Colombia travelers have written posts this week too, catch up on all their adventures by reading Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Loans, Our Work, Trust Groups, Where We Work
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YAO-ZA! Young Ambassadors Launches its Denver Chapter

The following post was written by YAO member and YAO-ZA! co-organizer Amy Steinhoff. Greetings from the Denver chapter of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO). We are thrilled to officially become part of the YAO network after YAO-ZA!, our successful chapter launch on Saturday, May 21st. Thanks to a dedicated team and the generous support of Read more…

Posted in Events, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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What We’re Reading: Opportunity Rwanda’s Daniel Ryumugabe & Chicago Supporters Gather to Discuss Left to Tell

On Monday, I joined 15 women for a meeting of the Chicago Women’s Book Discussion Group in the home of Kim Stephens, a member of Opportunity International‘s Board of Governors. The group, led by my Opportunity colleague, regional director Linda Vander Weele, has been meeting regularly for the past two years to discuss books that touch upon Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Faith in Action, Women's Opportunity Network
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Opportunity International Joins Other Thought Leaders in Global Development to Discuss the Future of Philanthropy

The following guest post was written by Emily Yahr, a media consultant for Opportunity International and attendee at Thursday’s Hudson Institute panel discussion. “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” -Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky On Thursday, May 12, representatives from research institutions, think tanks, universities, NGOs, and Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Our Leadership, Resources, Savings, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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