Blog Archives

Challenging Children For Change: One Hen 10K Bead Challenge

By Guest Post on October 30, 2009

The following is a guest post from Karen Schultz the Communications Director for One Hen, Inc. The spread of microfinance, as captured in the One Hen story, is drawing more and more kids to participate in poverty eradication. This summer, One Hen completed a successful pilot of our financial literacy curriculum in three urban communities of Read more…

Posted in Events, One Hen Children’s Book
Tagged 10K Bead Challenge, Building Educated Leaders for Life, Children, Children for Children, City Year, Education, Ending Poverty, Entrepreneurs, One Hen, Schools

Social Change is the Business of the Future

By AJ Renold on October 28, 2009

As many would agree, we are in a turbulent time. Old business models are breaking down and our future seems a bit more uncertain with each passing day. At the 10th Innovating Social Change Conference hosted last week by the Kellogg School of Management, I learned that now is the time to forget old business Read more…

Posted in Our Mission and Vision
Tagged 10th Innovating Social Change Conference, Acumen Fund, Australasia, CEO, Coca-Cola Enterprises, DBL Investors, Dr. Sanjay Sinho, Education, Enterprise Solutions to Poverty, Ethos Water, Jacqueline Novogratz, John Brock, John Wood, Jonathan Greenblatt, Kellogg School of Management, KIN Global, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children, MicroDreams, Nancy Barry, Nonprofit, Room to Read, SeaChange Capital Partners, Social business, Social capital, Social Change, South Pacific Business Development Microfinance Network, The American India Foundation, Youth

Spotlight from the Field: Maria Felix Gallardo Hernandez

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 22, 2009

Pots bubble, bread rises, and tortillas simmer as Maria does what she does every day: builds a better life for her family. And makes plans expand her business. And dreams of enrolling herself in school for the first time. If you were to ask Maria how old she is, she would reply (nonchalantly), “Sesenta y Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged Chapala, Children, Client Stories, Clients, Education, Entrepreneurs, Mexico, Trust Groups, Women

“The Girl Effect”: What an Effect!

By Guest Post on October 14, 2009

The following is a guest post from Young Ambassadors for Opportunity supporter, Suzie Hofert: It was just another class (at least that’s what I thought). It started at a grueling 8:30 in the morning, but the class was for my major, so I had to push through. My goal: figure out how to get an Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Tagged Community, Education, Family, Intern, Nike, Nike Foundation, Poverty, Rwanda, Tanzania, The Girl Effect, Women, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity

Opportunity India Redefines "Astitva"

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 6, 2009

“Astitva” is the identity of an Indian woman. While by tradition Indian women are supposed to be respected, common practice dictates that an Indian woman’s contributions usually go unnoticed. Her struggles are unacknowledged, and her dreams are not heard. Opportunity India is working to redefine “Astitva.” Through affordable loans for capital, buttressed by business and Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Training, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
Tagged Astitva, Education, Henrietta Isaac, India, Loans, Opportunity India, Training, Women

#Mifimon: Microfinance in Your Backyard

By Amy Carol Wolff on October 5, 2009

Twitter folks present (in alphabetical order): @AJRenold, @amycarolwolff, @Grameen_DC, @ianscotthaisley, @lethalsheethal, @lend4health, @optinnow, @rarenaud, @robgarciasj, @savetogether This week’s call to action: Find an article on U.S. microfinance and post it as a response to this blog and on our #Mifimon facebook page. Have a conversation with a friend or colleague about U.S. microfinance and tell Read more…

Posted in Loans, Microinsurance, Our Work, Technology, Training
Tagged #MifiMon, Accion, Activists, Banking, Education, Financial services, Grameen America, Lend 4 Health, Microfinance, OptINnow, Poverty, Training, Twitter, Women's Philanthropy

Board of Governors Conference Recap #BOG09

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on October 4, 2009

Whether in the telling or the hearing, stories have power. Through them the endless varieties of human experience are revealed to us and through us, inviting us to discover meaning… find compassion… and perhaps glean wisdom and hope from the dramas of our shared humanity. Stories–our clients’ and ours–was the theme of the Opportunity International Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Tagged #BOG09, Board of Governors, Board of Governors Conference, Caterpillar Foundation, Client Stories, Conference, Education, Loan Officer, Peter Thorrington, South Africa, William Ball, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity

Spotlight from the Field: Naomi and her Royal Seed Orphanage

By Sonja Egeland Kelly on September 30, 2009

Naomi. I have never met a woman so determined to make a difference. Her bright eyes sparkled, her hands showed the toughness that comes from work, and from her mouth poured words of encouragement and empowerment. I had the pleasure to meet Naomi and tour her Royal Seed Orphanage in Ghana while on an Insight Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Insight Trips, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work
Tagged Client Stories, Education, Ghana, Insight Trip, Loans, Opportunity International, Orphanage, Orphans, Schools, Women

Insight Trip: Rwanda Day 4 – AJ Renold

By AJ Renold on September 29, 2009

This post is a part of an on-going series from members of the . It shares their stories as they travel from the United States to Tanzania and Rwanda. Today we visited Opportunity Rwanda’s bank branch in Nyamata, about a 45-minute drive from Kigali. When we arrived, we were greeted by three who had been Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Tagged Children, Client Stories, Clients, Education, Insight Trip, Loans, Mobile Phones, Opportunity Rwanda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Trust Groups, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity

Real-Time Conversation. Real-Time Impact. #Mifimon

By Amy Carol Wolff on September 28, 2009

One of the things I love about Twitter is that you’re able to experience real-time industry developments and thought exchange. I love seeing people discuss social entrepreneurship, music, literature and food. Individuals can discover new resources that help grow their knowledge of the world and space in which they operate. It is truly fascinating. This Read more…

Posted in OptINnow, Our Work
Tagged #MifiMon, Education, environmental sustainability, Facebook, Healthcare, Microfinance, OptINnow, Social Entrepreneurship, Tweets, Twitter

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