Blog Archives

What We’re Pinning: Our Favorite Reads on Poverty, Philanthropy, and Women’s Empowerment

With all the amazing authors and books on countless interesting topics, it was hard to pick just six on Pinterest this week to share with you. But the ones we’ve chosen have especially inspired us and focus on topics ranging from empowering women to how to best help those in need. Some of these authors Read more…

Posted in Donors, Social Media, What We're Pinning, What We're Reading
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Evangelism is More Than Words

The following post was written by Bob Lupton–a community developer, entrepreneur, and a member of the Board of Directors for Opportunity’s Nicaragua Community Economic Development Project–who brings together communities of resource with communities of need. He’s the founder of the nonprofit FCS Urban Ministries and in the past 40 years has developed housing, congregations, and Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Our Motivation, Our Work, Resources, Rural Outreach, Where We Work
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Opportunity Promotes Entrepreneurship for the Next Generation in Nicaragua

Opportunity International is launching a Technical High School to teach youth entrepreneurship skills in the agriculture and tourism industries as part of its community development initiative in Nicaragua. Opportunity recently broke ground on its Entrepreneurial Technical High School in Diriomo, Nicaragua. The school will provide rural students with the education and training they need to Read more…

Posted in Our Work, Rural Outreach, Where We Work
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Inspirational Meeting in Malawi with Microfinance Client Mary Jackson

Recently, Opportunity International staff members traveled to Malawi, seeing firsthand how technology enables us to deliver microfinance services to rural people living in extreme poverty. They met with Opportunity Malawi clients and local staff to capture the stories of entrepreneurs who are working hard to break the cycle of poverty. Below, read staff member Cynthia’s account of her meeting with Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Savings, Strategic Partners, Training, Where We Work
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vote for Opportunity: We’re a finalist in National Geographic’s Geotourism Challenge 2010

Opportunity International is one of 12 organizations selected out of a pool of 250 as a finalist in National Geographic’s Geotourism Challenge 2010: Places on the Edge – Saving Coastal and Freshwater Destinations. Changemakers, along with National Geographic, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) have chosen to recognize our work in Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Work, Where We Work
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Local Event: Investment in Women, the Power of the “Multiplier Effect”

On Monday, December 6, at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park, Ill., Betsy Perdue, co-chair of the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), shared about the ‘multiplier effect’ and how it increases the social and economic impact of microfinance on women in the developing world, as she led a program called “Education, Microfinance and Empowered Women.” The concept of the multiplier effect is Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Motivation, Our Work, Trust Groups, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The World Food Prize Honors Grassroots Efforts in Hunger and Poverty Alleviation

Congratulations to the 2010 World Food Prize Laureates for their outstanding contribution to the elimination of world hunger. The World Food Prize honored David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, and Jo Luck, CEO of Heifer International, for their critical efforts in mobilizing and empowering everyday citizens to end hunger in communities around the Read more…

Posted in Our Mission and Vision
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

International Women’s Day: Coming Together to Recognize and Celebrate

International Women’s Day is about coming together to recognize and celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women all around the world. On this global day of celebration, it’s important to focus on the individual stories of women who show resilience, strength and courage each and every day. Opportunity International works with these very Read more…

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

#MifiMon: Women and Microfinance

The following is a guest post by Sheethal Shobowale, Kiva Fellow at MFIs Asociación Arariwa in Cusco, Peru and Emprender in La Paz, Bolivia starting in January. Interested in learning about microfinance? Follow our biweekly Twitter discussion group #mifimon (because Microfinance Mondays was too long for Twitter’s 140-character limit). Our aim is to host an Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Training, Trust Groups, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,