Blog Archives

Board of Governors Conference Recap #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 4, 2009

Whether in the telling or the hearing, stories have power. Through them the endless varieties of human experience are revealed to us and through us, inviting us to discover meaning… find compassion… and perhaps glean wisdom and hope from the dramas of our shared humanity. Stories–our clients’ and ours–was the theme of the Opportunity International Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Live: A Report from Opportunity’s Colombia Staff #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 3, 2009

Jim Frantz and Olga Perez have dedicated their lives to serving the poor. Working at our bank in Opportunity Colombia, they see triumph and heartbreak. Their story today was one of transformation. Colombia is an exciting place for microfinance. With almost 50% of Colombians living below the poverty line, and with so many displaced people, Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Work, Training, Trust Groups
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Live: Daryl Skoog and his Motorbike #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 3, 2009

Opportunity is introducing electric bikes as transportation for loan officers who have to travel a long distance to see their clients each day. When the conference moderator announced the break-out sessions this morning, the doors swung wide open and Vice President of MIS Daryl Skoog revved his engine and rode in on a motorbike. It was a Read more…

Posted in Our Work, Rural Outreach, Technology, Trust Groups
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Live: Do the World’s Poor Deserve Insurance? #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 3, 2009

MicroEnsure‘s Ryan Lynch, Special Project Manager, held a town hall meeting today. He was the politician. The topic was healthcare. Except it wasn’t held in the cornfields of Iowa, it was the slums of India. This mock town hall meeting was held in honor of the poor in India who do not have access to Read more…

Posted in Microinsurance, Our Work, Where We Work
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Live: Dale Hanson Bourke Inspires Board of Governors #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 3, 2009

I am always surprised by Opportunity supporters. It is not that I do not expect them to be exceptional, or that I do not see them as leaders. It is the fact that they are such impressive people, and they simultaneously care so deeply for the poor. Dale Hanson Bourke is an amazing woman. She is Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation
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Live: Roger Thurow Insists There is "Enough." #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 2, 2009

Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman’s  compelling book Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty tells the story of the world’s food. It raises the question of supply and demand, which is easy to understand even if you were not an economics major. There is enough food to feed everyone in the world. Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Rural Outreach, What We're Reading
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Daniel Taylor: Tell Me A Story #BOG09

By Eliza Griffith on October 2, 2009

Hi! Let me tell you a story. Doesn’t your body, your soul just lean in a bit when you hear that? Oh please, tell me! Human beings live in stories. Today, Opportunity International’s Board of Governors begins its fall conference – Share her story, Change your world. Daniel Taylor, a professor of literature and writing at Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation
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Live: CEO Kadita "A.T." Tshibaka Kicks off the Board of Governors Conference #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 2, 2009

I have always admired Opportunity International CEO Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka. He has a way of coming into a room and making everyone feel special. And blessed. And happy. And empowered. He is able to connect with everyone–from a client in the field to a banking executive. Today is no exception. “A.T.” (as he is warmly called by Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Leadership, Our Motivation, Our Work
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