Blog Archives

Clinton Global Initiative 2012: Momentum on Women’s Empowerment, Global Food Security

The Clinton Global Initiative annual 2012 meeting wrapped up this past Tuesday. This year’s theme, Designing for Impact, provided a three-day podium for today’s leading ideas intent on creating more opportunity and equality in our increasingly interconnected world. This year’s distinguished attendees included President Barack Obama, presidential candidate Mitt Romney, President Joyce Banda (of the Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Events, Our Work, Where We Work, Women
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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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CGI Day 2-Pres. Barack Obama, Opportunity’s Education Initiatives, Rajiv Shah on Peace & Food Security, and More

Today’s afternoon plenary session at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative opened with a Students of the World documentary on Opportunity International’s Banking on Education initiative, which is increasing educational opportunities for more than 120,000 children in underserved neighborhoods in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. The video was a progress report on Opportunity’s Banking on Education commitment Read more…

Posted in Events, Resources, Where We Work
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CGI Session-Going Small for Big Results: Microfranchise and Entrepreneurial Growth

It’s been a full first day already at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. This morning, CGI sessions have explored climate change with President Clinton and eight other world leaders, population issues with Clinton and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Then, attendees learned Read more…

Posted in Events, Resources
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CGIU 2010 Concludes with a Focus on Haiti

At the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) conference this year, the final plenary session centered on the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010. For me, this final panel was the most moving of the entire weekend. It is plain to see why Haiti was the focus of the final session at this Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Strategic Partners
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A Working Session at CGIU: Alleviating Global Poverty

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) in Miami, Fla. I was a table facilitator at two “working sessions” in which I collaborated with student leaders committed to effecting global change. With me at the conference was Liesel Pritzker, founder and chair of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO), Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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CGI and Young Leaders Collaborate for Change at the CGIU Conference

“I strongly believe that, through CGIU, we can harness the energy and power of today’s young leaders to improve the lives of people around the world and build a stronger future for us all.” – President Bill Clinton Reflections from Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU)… At this conference we spent 36 hours rubbing shoulders with the Read more…

Posted in Strategic Partners, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Live: CEO Kadita "A.T." Tshibaka Kicks off the Board of Governors Conference #BOG09

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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Painters, Activists & Engineers at the Clinton Global Initiative

On the last evening of The Clinton Global Initiative, I ended up chatting with the following three people: a painter who uses his art to teach children in Mexico about tolerance and peace, a small business loan officer who works for a community development organization in Harlem, and an engineer who is piloting a solar Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision
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Investing in Women and Girls

According the to the UN, women undertake 66% of the world’s work. They produce 50% of the worlds food. In spite of this, they earn only 10% of the world’s income. And they own only 1% of the world’s property. With statistics like these, it is no wonder that the Clinton Global Initiative emphasizes the Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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