Microfinance a Working Solution to Global Poverty » Earthquake http://www.opportunity.org Opportunity International Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:34:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Mourning with World Vision http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:56:31 +0000 Opportunity International http://blog.opportunity.org/?p=943 Read more...]]> Opportunity International mourns with World Vision for the loss of six staff members who were killed by gunmen in an attack on their office in Pakistan yesterday. The office focused on providing continued relief to the Mansehra District, where a devastating earthquake killed 80,000 in 2005. These World Vision staff members were local citizens who were dedicated to improving the lives of those in their community affected by poverty and disasters. Please remember in your prayers the families of these Pakistanis. We also pray for the full and speedy recovery of eight other workers who have been hospitalized, and for World Vision staff everywhere for their loss.

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/feed/ 0 Opportunity International Provides Crucial Support to Microfinance Bank in Haiti http://www.opportunity.org/blog/opportunity-international-provides-crucial-support-to-microfinance-bank-in-haiti/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/opportunity-international-provides-crucial-support-to-microfinance-bank-in-haiti/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:40:56 +0000 Cynthia Greenwood http://blog.opportunity.org/opportunity-international-provides-crucial-support-to-microfinance-bank-in-haiti/ Read more...]]> Fonkoze, the largest microfinance organization in Haiti, is being hailed for its distribution of cash more quickly than traditional banks after the earthquake destroyed the country’s banking infrastructure. Opportunity International has been playing a crucial supporting role to Fonkoze in getting the bank up and running after the disaster.

After years of struggling to adapt traditional banking software to its microfinance operations, Fonkoze began working with Opportunity to implement the technology tools it needed to manage its operations. The same technology innovations Opportunity developed for its microfinance banks around the world are now used at Fonkoze.

When the earthquake struck, Fonkoze’s main headquarters and a number of branches were destroyed. Once Fonkoze was able to get its hardware set up again, Opportunity began working with them behind the scenes to restore their operations. Within four days, half of Fonkoze’s 42 branches were operational and all but two were ready within the week. The organization’s nationwide client base of 200,000 depositors (50,000 of whom area also borrowers) had access to the cash they so desperately needed to survive.

As a trusted institution in the community and through tools such a mobile banking, microfinance is now able to play an even greater role in disaster recovery. So much so that Newsweek is now asking, “Could microcredit be the next Red Cross?”

For news coverage of Fonkoze’s remarkable response, visit http://www.newsweek.com/id/233334.

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/opportunity-international-provides-crucial-support-to-microfinance-bank-in-haiti/feed/ 5 The Tragedy in Haiti: How You Can Help http://www.opportunity.org/blog/the-tragedy-in-haiti-how-you-can-help/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/the-tragedy-in-haiti-how-you-can-help/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:38:03 +0000 Rob Meloche http://blog.opportunity.org/?p=755 Read more...]]> At Opportunity International we are heartbroken over the horrible suffering and staggering devastation in Haiti. Please join with us in praying for the people of Haiti and supporting the ongoing relief effort.

In this immediate aftermath, we would encourage you to consider supporting one of our partners with operations in Haiti or one of the many other great organizations who are providing services in the country.

A terrible tragedy like this demonstrates the vulnerability of those living in poverty, and reminds us of how much work remains to help strengthen poor communities around the world.

As President Obama recently said, “Few in the world have endured the hardships that you [Haiti] have known. Long before this tragedy, daily life itself was often a bitter struggle. And after suffering so much for so long, to face this new horror must cause some to look up and ask, have we somehow been forsaken?”

We join with the President and the international chorus of voices declaring, “You will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.”

Partners with operations in Haiti:

Compassion International
http://www.compassion.com/

World Relief
http://worldrelief.org/

Fonkoze
http://www.fonkoze.org/

 Other organizations supporting the relief and rebuilding effort:

World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org/

 Habitat for Humanity
http://www.habitat.org/

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