Blog Archives

What We’re Reading: Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams

Africa is the next frontier for banks from all corners of the globe. Last week, The Economist aptly portrayed both the high hope and sheer uncertainty felt by financial institutions serving the African continent in Banking in Africa: Continent of Dreams. A number of the article’s key points are central to both why and how Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Our Work, Poverty, Resources, Rural Outreach, Technology, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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Meet Our Staff: 10 Questions with Lauren Hawley, New Board of Governors Manager

Lauren Hawley arrived at  three weeks ago, taking the role of the manager of the  program. She’ll be working to grow the community and coordinate Governor activities, support Governor events, and strengthen this group of highly committed Opportunity supporters and champions. Get to know our newest team member, Lauren… What did you do before you came here? I Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Our Mission and Vision
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LiveBlog: Chicago Microfinance Conference-”Does Microfinance Really Work? – Measuring Social Performance of MFIs”

At this first breakout session of today’s conference, moderator Kathleen Odell, assistant professor of economics at the Dominican University Brennan School of Business, leads a panel of academics and microfinance professionals to explore and debate the benefits of microfinance to effectively help people escape poverty. The panel discusses the actual impact of microfinance–and whether such Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Resources, Savings
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Meeting the Grandfather of Microfinance

Last Friday, YAO-Chicago chair Shannon Leutheuser and I had the chance to not only hear but actually to meet Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Chicago Council of Global Affairs event, “Building Social Business.” Yunus is the founder and manager of Grameen Bank and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and he has written a new Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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