Beduith on one of the streets she improved with her Trust Group

In winter, Beduith’s street in the city of Barranquilla was clogged with mud and impassable, making life dangerous, unpleasant and inconvenient. This can also make it difficult for residents to get to their jobs and operate their businesses. As president of La Valle de Esperanza Trust Group, Beduith rallied the members to raise matching funds for the local mayor’s street paving project. Together, they sold soup, hosted bingo, ran a dance event and raised $7,200 for a new road that makes life easier, safer, cleaner and better for the entire neighborhood. Once shy and reserved, she now says, “I’ve been given the opportunity to grow, and to help others grow too.”

Beduith (left) and her Opportunity Colombia loan officer

A few years ago, Beduith got her first Opportunity International loan to expand her furniture repair shop, which she and her husband Moses Henao have operated out of their home for the past 17 years. The loans from Opportunity Colombia allowed them to buy the materials they need, and Opportunity financial training taught her how to manage her income and expenses to make the business even more profitable. With her increased income and financial security, Beduith was able to build a new home, send her children to school and even save some money for the future. Right now, the couple employs four people, but eventually Beduith wants to hire enough employees so that she and Moses can retire.

Beduith’s story is not unusual. When Opportunity’s women clients break out of the cycle of poverty, they get more than a steady income. They often find a hidden inner strength, contributing to the community, inspiring others and shaping day-to-day life. That’s the power of one. Invest in women like Beduith today »

Nancy and Fred McDougal with an Opportunity client in India

“We’ve learned so much about the wider world than we could have learned otherwise,” Fred said. Having taken four previous Insight Trips, the couple brought their grandchildren to see Opportunity’s work in Colombia. Kevin, then age 11, was particularly absorbed by the experience.

“He’d sit with the Trust Group and really listen intently,” said Nancy. “At the end of the trip I asked him what impressed him most and he said, ‘They have so little and we have so much, but they’re so grateful.’ Hearing that meant everything to us.”

This article was published on page 7 of the fall 2012/winter 2013 issue of Opportunity’s Impact newsletter.

How Great Women Lead

by Cassie Burns

Bonnie St. John addresses attendees at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina.

How can I grow as a leader to develop myself and help others? I often ask myself this as I manage my professional, personal and volunteer lives.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining over 150 women in the Twin Cities to discuss the topic of women’s leadership. The event was co-hosted by Opportunity International; Riverbridge Partners; and Leonard, Street & Deinard, three organizations committed to empowering women in leadership roles. It featured a keynote by Bonnie St. John, co-author of the book “How Great Women Lead,” followed by a panel conversation with a group of highly respected local women leaders, moderated by Opportunity International CEO Vicki Escarra.

Panel of women leaders speak on their challenges

Bonnie St. John shared insights from her travels around the globe interviewing women leaders — including Opportunity Nicaragua’s Regional Manager, Noemi Vivas Ocaña. As Bonnie spoke, I was reminded of how universal the role of women in leadership is. No matter the community or context, women naturally rise to lead and care for others. Strong women lead by strengthening others, too. When women lead, there is a deep sense of community.  

Vicki Escarra led a lively conversation with local leaders including Kathleen Blatz, Retired Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court; Sandra Davis, Founder and CEO of MDA Leadership Consulting; Olga Viso, Director of the Walker Art Center; and Sondra Samuels, President and CEO of Northside Achievement Zone. It was inspiring to hear their personal stories of rising into leadership positions, the responsibilities they carried and how they encouraged others in their roles.  A common theme was the importance of leading by empowering others.

I came away from the evening feeling stronger and more energized, with a desire to do more. I know I have many opportunities every day to lead in subtle and visible ways, and I’m now more aware of how I can make the most of them. One small way I can help is by supporting Opportunity’s One Woman Holiday Challenge, which empowers women entrepreneurs around the globe to have financial independence, becoming leaders in their communities. With one gift, I am supporting not only one woman, but many future leaders around her.

Spin60 & Transform a Life!

by Steve Waters

Steve and Kathy Waters meet an Opportunity client (center) in 2011 on an Insight Trip to Colombia.

This month marks a milestone birthday for me. I wanted to celebrate my 60th by doing something completely different. So my wife and I threw a birthday fundraiser for Opportunity International and Hope Unlimited for Children — a one-hour spinning event at Life Time Fitness (which generously donated a studio and an instructor) with 35 of my family and friends.

I was motivated to push myself and my community for the sake of Opportunity clients because of my experience last year on an Insight Trip to Colombia with my wife, Kathy, to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We saw with our own eyes the transformation in the lives of men and women in Bogotá and Cartagena through Opportunity International’s programs in Colombia. One woman whose home we visited had started seven businesses, including making dollhouse furniture, opening a snack shop and growing houseplants. She talked about how each business contributed to supporting her family. She also talked about wanting business accounting education to help her better manage her businesses. Her face lit up with dignity as she spoke! Many of Opportunity’s clients are saving money for the first time, and now have access to insurance and other financial tools that they could never have dreamed of before. I believe in microfinance for one big reason: because it works!

Steve spins to eradicate poverty at the Spin 60 event.

You can learn about my big birthday event and our fundraising efforts at my fundraiser, “SPIN60 & Transform a Life!”

If you are so inclined, you can donate something to Opportunity’s work right on our website. A donation of any amount would be greatly appreciated, as my fundraiser ends tomorrow, Nov. 29, on my actual birthday. So far, ushering in this new decade has been energizing! Join me in this exciting new chapter. Check out my online fundraiser »

Client Argelia Ramirez (right), a shop owner in Henequen, Colombia, now has a safe place to save.

“We have provided loans and training to the Colombian people for more than 40 years,” said Enrique Ordonez, Opportunity Colombia’s CEO. “Thanks to the generous support of the Citi Foundation, our clients will also have a safe place to save their money, a critical tool for those working their way out of poverty. This new financial intermediary has as its sole objective to offer opportunities to the less fortunate so that they have the opportunity to save money and plan for the future.”

In a country where more than 12.7 million people live on less than $2 a day, and only 2.5% are using microfinance services, Opportunity Colombia will enable marginalized people, especially women, to engage in the local economy, overcome extreme poverty and build stronger communities. Currently, more than 75% of Opportunity Colombia clients are women.

Opportunity Colombia CEO Enrique Ordonez speaks at the grand opening celebration.

“Opportunity Colombia’s bank will provide those outside the economic mainstream with greater access to financial resources they need to begin building a more stable future for themselves and their families,” said Pamela Flaherty, President and CEO, Citi Foundation. “We are pleased that the support of the Citi Foundation will enable Opportunity International to expand financial inclusion in Bogotá.”

Celebrating this important milestone, Opportunity Colombia hosted a grand opening event last month in Bogotá, attended by international dignitaries, philanthropists, corporations and clients as well as local and international Opportunity staff.

Learn more about this grant from Citi Foundation »

John de Bruyn, with emcee Jenny Alexandra Reyes, leads the group in prayer

With 150 attendees at the beautiful Metropolitan Club, in the hills above Bogota, Opportunity Colombia’s CEO Enrique Ordonez and his staff were on hand to welcome the finance community, local corporations, donors, the Board of Directors and Opportunity International’s global operations staff. Jenny Alexandra Reyes, Chief of Collections at Opportunity Colombia, was the emcee, and John de Bruyn, Chair of Opportunity Colombia’s Board, led the group in an opening prayer, giving thanks for the opportunity to help people in poverty to transform their lives.

Opportunity Colombia CEO Enrique Ordonez at the podium

Enrique welcomed attendees and thanked staff and supporters. Since 1973, he said, loans have been a critical tool Opportunity used to help impoverished Colombians build or expand their businesses. In 1971, Mr. Ross Clemenger, a Canadian Citizen who developed his pastoral activities in our country, gave the first Opportunity loan in Colombia to Mr. Carlos Moreno. Though Mr. Clemenger passed in July, his work is more vigorous today that ever. But in these years, one equally vital tool was missing: savings. “Tonight,” Enrique said, ”we open the doors of a new financial intermediary that has as its sole objective to offer opportunities to the less fortunate [so that they can] save money.”

Alois Gitterle of Credit Suisse

Alois Gitterle, Director and Senior Client Advisor at Credit Suisse, highlighted the continuing need for capacity development, financial inclusion and effective training in the microfinance sector to keep up with its exponential growth. The collaboration between Credit Suisse and MFIs like Opportunity Colombia helps to accomplish this, enabling Opportunity to develop the people, processes and products it needs in Colombia to meet its social and financial goals and increase its geographic footprint to new areas, adding four new branches in the cities of Bogota and Cucuta. Alois discussed the Microfinance Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI), established in 2008, which is funded through the Credit Suisse Foundation and complements the bank’s long-term business engagement in the sector, leveraging their banking expertise. They’re proud of their long history in microfinance. They were recently awarded a special commendation for microfinance engagement in connection with the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation Sustainable Finance Awards in recognition of 10 years of comprehensive and complementary work in microfinance across all divisions of the bank.

Client Cecilia Oquendo Gomez prepares to cut the ribbon

Credit Suisse also contributes funding and expertise to the training of thousands of staff members at microfinance institutions around the world, including Opportunity Colombia. They help to develop a quality workforce by partnering with Opportunity Colombia in NextGeneration Banker staff training and development programs. And they helped implement the back-office technology Opportunity Colombia needed to gain constitutional and operational licenses, such as the T24 banking system. “Credit Suisse is proud to partner with the dedicated management and staff of Opportunity Colombia,” Alois concluded. “We’re satisfied that this is a bank that will continue to adopt best practices well into the future.”

The ribbon cutting

Harry Turner, CEO of Opportunity International’s Global Microfinance Operations, noted that what sets Opportunity Colombia apart from other local MFIs is its dedication to holistic client transformation. Clients gain improved economic status, are better able to build their capacity in business and in life, and they receive social support from their Trust Group and the guidance of their loan officer. And this philosophy led to Opportunity’s Code of Conduct, which reminds us to always treat clients with dignity, fairness and respect, offering transparent fees and clearly explained contractual obligations.

Cecilia Oquendo Gomez, one of Opportunity Colombia’s most successful clients, told the sad story of her daughter Vanessa’s long battle with cancer. When Vanessa passed away a few years ago, it was difficult not only because they had lost their daughter, but because their deep debt from her medical fees meant that they risked losing the business they had worked years to build. Even though Cecilia’s first loan from Opportunity was small, that capital and her subsequent loans helped her to slowly reestablish her family’s business.

David Simms hands a commemorative plaque to Carlos Moreno, with Enrique Ordonez at right

Finally, David Simms, Chairman of the Board of Opportunity’s Global Microfinance Operations, took center stage to thank Opportunity’s donor community for their unwavering support, patience and trust in the goal to make this day a reality. More than 1,000 partners contributed to this historic effort, including Credit Suisse; Caterpillar Foundation; Citi Foundation; InterAmerican Development Bank; private foundations (Soran Foundation, John and Jacque Weberg Foundation); as well as the Robert Jenkins Family, Warren and Mary Lynn Staley, and Alan Barnhart. David presented a commemorative plaque to Carlos Moreno, Opportunity’s first loan client, honoring him for his historical place in Opportunity International’s legacy.

As David told the crowd, “The grand opening and expansion of Opportunity Colombia is the result of a strong and sustaining vision, great commitment, hard work and abiding faith. I share this joyful moment with the entire Opportunity International family of staff and supporters.”

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Opportunity Colombia!

Beduith, on one of the streets she improved with her Trust Group

When I heard the theme, one of the first people to pop into my head was Beduith. Beduith María Henao Beltran of Barranquilla, Colombia, is a perfect example of an Opportunity client who improved her life, her financial situation, and then used her voice to change something in her community for the better, encouraging her friends and neighbors to join her. (We gave a glimpse into Beduith’s story on page 6 of our Annual Report.)

A few years ago, Beduith got her first Opportunity International loan to expand her furniture repair shop, which she and her husband Moses Henao have operated out of their home for the past 17 years. The loans from Opportunity Colombia allowed them to buy the materials they need, and business training taught her how to manage her income and expenses to make the business even more profitable. With her increased income and financial security, Beduith was able to build a new home, send her children to school and even save some money for the future. Right now, the couple employs four people, but eventually Beduith wants to hire enough employees so that she and Moses can retire.

Beduith and Moses, rebuilding their home in Barranquilla

In winter, the streets of Barranquilla are clogged with mud and impassable, making daily life dangerous, unpleasant and inconvenient, which can also make it difficult for residents to get to their jobs and operate their businesses. Beduith refused to merely accept these conditions. As president of La Valle de Esperanza Trust Group, she rallied the members to raise matching funds for the local mayor’s street paving project. Together, they sold soup, hosted bingo, ran a dance event, and raised $7,200 for a new road that makes life easier, safer, cleaner and better for the entire neighborhood.

Beduith’s story is not unusual. When Opportunity’s clients can break out of the cycle of poverty, they get more than a steady income. They often find a hidden inner strength and take on responsibilities like holding public office, leading a church group, and standing up to take action for the good of the community. They inspire others and shape day-to-day life. It’s hard to believe Beduith was once shy and reserved! She now says, “God gave me the opportunity to grow and to help others grow too.”

Congratulations, Beduith. You’re an inspiration to us all, reminding us that wherever we live, we should stand up for the greater good.

Check out highlights from other Blog Action Day posts on “The Power of We.”

Woman working on a chili farm in India	Farmer harvesting coffee in Colombia
A fistful of wheat = life. Photo by ONE.org	Tulbagh Valley Olive Farm in South Africa
Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines. 2000-year old terraces created to provide steps where farmers could grow rice	Infographic by USAID on the global state of agriculture and the importance of empowering women farmers

Emily Engel is Opportunity’s new online community specialist. She’s excited to start engaging with you on our social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.