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An Opportunity for Scrooge & the Untapped Power of George Bailey

By Steve Nelson on December 21, 2012

Bathed in the spotlight, Ebenezer Scrooge towered above the audience, sitting atop a 10-foot-tall desk in the opening scene of “A Christmas Carol.” My eye was drawn to the sign posted in front of his shop: “Scrooge and Marley Money Lenders.” It dawned on me that Scrooge was, in reality, a tight-fisted microfinance lender who Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work
Tagged A Christmas Carol, Christmas, Clients, Ebenezer Scrooge, Ending Poverty, Financial services, George Bailey, Holiday, It's a Wonderful Life, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Steve Nelson

Opportunity Ghana Client Edward Opuku Shares the Path to Success

By Opportunity International on December 18, 2012

Edward Opuku put his years of training and education to work to build successful businesses repairing and renting stereo systems, despite the warnings of his friends and neighbors. Believing in himself, and building upon Opportunity International’s resources and training, Edward now has three shops, a warehouse and a team of 10 employees. Edward comes from Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Education, Loans, Where We Work
Tagged accra, Africa, apprenticeship, Client Stories, Clients, Education, Family, Ghana, individual loan client, Loans, Opportunity International, Poverty, small business loans, Training, Transformation, Trust Group

Clients Stand Up and Speak Up on UN Human Rights Day

By Opportunity International on December 10, 2012

December 10 is UN Human Rights Day, an opportunity to celebrate universal human rights and advocate for the full enjoyment of all rights by all people, regardless of geography, gender, race or socioeconomic status. This year, Human Rights Day spotlights the rights of all people to make their voices heard in public life and to Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Events, Transformation, Videos, Where We Work, Women
Tagged accra, Africa, Client Stories, Clients, Community, community organizer, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Ghana, Global Poverty, Human Rights, Human Rights Day, Microfinance, Opportunity Ghana, Opportunity International, Poverty, Transformation, United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, videos, Women

Serving the Whole Person with Opportunity’s Transformation Program

By Opportunity International on December 7, 2012

“It’s the dignity of it” was how one African loan client expressed herself to an off-duty staff member standing in line at an Opportunity International bank. She knew she had achieved success through the work of her own hands. Four million such stories play out each day all over the world as Opportunity strives to Read more…

Posted in Loan officer, Local Staffing, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Transformation, Trust Groups, What We're Reading
Tagged Africa, Asia, chief transformation officer, Client Stories, Clients, Community, Daniel Ryumugabe, Ending Poverty, Financial services, gypsies, holistic transformation, Impact, Impact newsletter, India, Loan Officer, local staff, Microfinance, Opportunity India, Opportunity International, Opportunity Rwanda, Poverty, Rwanda, spiritual transformation, Transformation, Trust Groups, Valamarthi

Invest in Education Innovators with Opportunity

By Opportunity International on December 6, 2012

Education is the single largest determining factor for future economic status. Yet, 130 million young people worldwide are not in school — and 70% of them are girls. If a girl cannot complete secondary school, she is at a higher risk of illiteracy, HIV and early marriage, offering little chance of reaching her potential. Comfort Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Education, Loans, Our Work, Women
Tagged accra, Africa, Ahobrase Academy, Children, Client Stories, Clients, Comfort Appiah, Community, Education, Education finance, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Ghana, invest in education, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity Ghana, Opportunity International, Poverty, School fee loans, School Proprietor Loans, school proprietors, Schools, Students, Women

Six Powerful Women Taking Action: The Power of One to Make a Difference

By Emily Terrell on December 5, 2012

We believe in the power of one woman to make a difference. This week, we found stories of six women who are doing their part to impact the lives of many, in their communities and around the world. Each story shows the unique power of one woman, no matter where she is in the world Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, In the News, Our Mission and Vision, What We're Pinning, Women
Tagged afghanistan, amputee, Aung San Suu Kyi, Beduith, Beduith Maria Henao Beltran, Burma, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, Community, Education, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, Korea, Nonprofit, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, The power of one, Trust Groups, Women

Holiday Giving Guide: Citi Foundation, One Woman and a Gift Card of Opportunity

By Emily Riemer on December 4, 2012

This year, Opportunity International has unique and interactive ways to give the gift of opportunity to more than four million clients around the world that will not only do good, but will make you feel great. Here are a few of our favorite ways for you to partner with us this holiday season. Your gift will Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Donors, Fundraisers, Gift Cards, Loans, Microfinance, Online Giving, Our Work, Text to Give, What We're Reading, Women
Tagged Ada, Africa, Bob Annibale, Christmas, Citi Foundation, City A.M., Clients, Donations, Financial services, fundraisers, Ghana, Gift Cards, Global Poverty, Holiday, holiday giving, Loans, match, Microfinance, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity Ghana, Opportunity Gift Cards, Opportunity International, Patience Dameh, Poverty, text to give, Women

Opportunity International Honors World AIDS Day

By Brad Skeba on December 1, 2012

December 1, 2012 is World AIDS Day. Today, we at Opportunity International stand with millions around the world, including our clients, in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As an organization that offers AIDS education in some of the world’s hardest hit communities, we look forward to the day when families, friends and clients are freed from Read more…

Posted in Events, Health, Our Work, Training, Trust Groups, Where We Work
Tagged Africa, AIDS, Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, Brad Skeba, Clients, Community, Democratic Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Education, Ending Poverty, Global Poverty, Health, HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS prevention, Microfinance, Opportunity DRC, Opportunity International, Poverty, sub-Saharan Africa, Training, Trust Groups, Uganda, Unicef, World Aids Day, World Health Organization

Show Your Support for Women on Giving Tuesday

By Opportunity International on November 27, 2012

Happy Giving Tuesday to our generous Opportunity International community! Coming right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a unique chance for nonprofits, families and businesses to come together to encourage the spirit of generosity and good will, to start the holiday giving season off right. Learn more about the movement at Read more…

Posted in Events, Fundraisers, Loans, Online Giving, Our Work, Poverty, Rural Outreach, Women
Tagged Africa, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, Clients, Ending Poverty, Eugenie Nyirabagenzi, Financial services, fundraisers, Giving Tuesday, Global Poverty, Loans, Microfinance, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity International, Opportunity Rwanda, Poverty, Rwamagana, Rwanda, Women, women entrepreneurs

Brighten Your Black Friday and Give the Gift of Opportunity

By Opportunity International on November 23, 2012

This holiday season, as you hunt for the perfect gift, consider giving friends, family and co-workers an Opportunity Gift Card to bring hope and opportunity to clients like Patience Dameh of Ghana (right). Your friends can use Opportunity Gift Cards to empower some of the millions of clients around the world like Patience who use Opportunity Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Events, Gift Cards, Loans, Online Giving, Our Work, Women
Tagged Ada, Africa, Black Friday, Client Stories, Clients, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Ghana, Gift Cards, Gift Idea, Global Poverty, Kasseh Market, kente cloth, Loans, Microfinance, online giving, Opportunity Ghana, Opportunity Gift Cards, Opportunity International, Patience Dameh, Poverty, Savings, Women

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