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This Memorial Day, We Remember Those Fighting to Work Their Way Out of Poverty
The following post was written by Olivia Schultz, a spring intern in Opportunity International‘s marketing department. As we reflect on Memorial Day, a day to remember those who have fought and died for our country, we honor all the men and women who have courageously fought on our behalf so that we can live in Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, American Security Project, Board of Advisors, claudia kennedy, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Global Poverty, global security, Insurance, lieutenant general claudia kennedy, Loans, Memorial Day, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, peace, Poverty, Savings, Training
Celebrating the Struggles & Achievements of Women Clients at Arizona Women’s Tea
Last Wednesday, March 30th, 35 women gathered for an afternoon tea in the warm and inviting environment of Arcadia Farms Café in Scottsdale, Az., sharing delicious sandwiches and decadent desserts as they learned how they can help Opportunity’s women clients provide for their families and improve their futures. I was pleased to be able to attend the Read more…
Tagged 2011 microfinance conference, Africa, Arizona, Banking on Women, Board of Governors, Clients, create change, Empowerment, Events, fall microfinance conference, Investing in Women and Girls, Loan Officer, mark lutz, Microfinance, Mother's Day, Oak Park, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Opportunity Uganda, Scottsdale, Trust Groups, Uganda, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Ambassador Tony Hall Fasts to Bring Attention to Global Hunger
“Opportunity International is honored to stand in prayer and fasting with our dear friend, Ambassador Tony Hall. He reminds us that we must begin this work by examining our own hearts, and that together we can bring an end to poverty.” -Bill Morgenstern, CEO, Opportunity International Today, Ambassador Tony Hall, who serves on our Board Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, Advocacy, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, Bill Morgenstern, Bread for the World, budget, Congress, Ending Hunger, Ending Poverty, Faith in Action, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Food security, Global Poverty, Hunger, hunger fast, Loans, malnutrition, MFI, Microfinance, Microfinance Conference, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Political advocacy, Poverty, sojourners, Tony Hall
Empowering Rwandan Women in Microfinance
By Jeffrey Lee, CEO of Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB) of Rwanda In Rwanda, gender equality is real. For example, more than 50% of the Rwandan senators are women. The chief justice is a woman. Approximately 40% of the state ministers are women, including the ministers of agriculture, of trade, of foreign affairs. Indeed, women are Read more…
Tagged 10000 women initiative, 2010 fall microfinance conference, Africa, alice gasatura, Emerging Leaders, emerging leaders program, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Goldman Sachs, Kenya, Kigali, Loan Officer, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Nairobi, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Opportunity Rwanda, Poverty, Rwanda, Urwego Opportunity Bank, Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda, Women, Women Leaders, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Opportunity & Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy Call for Citizen Diplomacy and Economic Empowerment
In support of the U.S. Summit and Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy this week in Washington, D.C., Opportunity International today called for a renewed focus on citizen diplomacy and economic empowerment. Opportunity Board of Advisors member U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Claudia Kennedy encourages individuals to recognize the power of diplomacy and development to improve Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, 2010 US Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy, American Security Project, Board of Advisors, claudia kennedy, Clients, Conference, Economic development, Education, Ending Hunger, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, global security, Hunger, lieutenant general claudia kennedy, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Mothers, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, peace, Poverty, power, Rob Meloche, United States Army, US Army, US Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy, US Summit Citizen Diplomacy, White House Fellows Program, Women, Women Leaders, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Double Your Business’s Impact on Global Poverty with Caterpillar’s Matching Grant
Investing in microfinance through Opportunity International is the best, most efficient way that we’ve found through all of our philanthropic investments to make progress possible in the lives of people who need our help most. – Caterpillar Foundation Vice President Will Ball Caterpillar Foundation announces an aggressive, year-end $1 million challenge grant that will enable corporations Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, Africa, Agricultural finance, Caterpillar Foundation, Caterpillar Inc., Caterpillar match, China, Conference, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Global Poverty, India, Indonesia, Mexico, MFI, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Philanthropy, Poverty, Rural banking, Rural Outreach, Savings, Technology, Will Ball, William Ball
News from ONE: Rwanda gives $1 million to the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria
The following is a blog post published on the ONE Campaign’s blog yesterday, Nov. 10, written by Malaka Gharib. Here’s some really cool news–we just caught wind that Rwanda is donating $1 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to a press release, Rwanda is the fourth African country to contribute Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, Africa, AIDS, alice gasatura, Clients, Conference, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Global Fund, Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria, HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS prevention, Loan Officer, Loans, Malaria, MFI, Microfinance, Millennium Development Goals, ONE, ONE blog, ONE Campaign, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Opportunity Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Poverty, Rwanda, Tuberculosis, UN Millennium Campaign, Un millennium development goals, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
CGAP Report: Mobile Phone Banking Effectively Reaches the Unbanked
CGAP Technology Blog posted a report yesterday on the effectiveness of “branchless banking” (mobile phone banking) in seven countries, with eight high profile m-banking providers, including M-PESA in Kenya and Tanzania. Among the highlights: 37% of active clients now in the formal financial system through mobile phone banking were previously unbanked… Mobile phone banking is scaling faster than Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, CGAP, cgap technology blog, Credit Suisse, Daryl Skoog, Electronic wallet strategy, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Kenya, Loans, M-banking, M-PESA, Malawi, MFI, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, mobile phone banking, Mobile Phones, Opportunity International, Tanzania, Technology
Today is World Food Day–Saturday, Oct. 16
Saturday, Oct. 16th is World Food Day, a day designated by the U.N.’s World Food Programme to raise awareness and support in the fight against global hunger. From wfp.org: “World Food Day on October 16 reminds the world that around 1 in 7 people alive today are going hungry[...] [Though,] this year, the number of Read more…
Tagged 2010 fall microfinance conference, Africa, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Changing the Face of Hunger, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Conference, Ending Hunger, Ending Poverty, Ethiopia, fall microfinance conference, Hunger, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Poverty, Roger Thurow, Tony Hall, United Nations, World Food Day, World Food Programme
Conference Breakout: Investing in Half the Sky
The panelists at the breakout session, Investing in Half the Sky. From left to right: Diana Negroponte, Alice Gasatura, Julie Hindmarsh and Ruth-Anne Renaud. The following post by YAO member and Opportunity supporter Sonja Egeland Kelly is one of the many blog posts we published from the 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference. Click here to read all Read more…
Tagged 10000 women initiative, 10k Women, 2010 fall microfinance conference, Africa, alice gasatura, Board of Advisors, Board of Directors, Board of Governors Conference, Children, Community, Conference, Education, Emerging Leaders, emerging leaders program, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Ghana, Goldman Sachs, Half the Sky, Insight Trip, Julie Hindmarsh, Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka, Kenya, LEAD Campaign, LEAD Initiative, Loan Officer, Loans, Malawi, MFI, Microfinance, Mothers, Mozambique, Nicholas D. Kristof, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Opportunity Rwanda, OptINnow, Poverty, Professional training, Ruth-Anne Renaud, Rwanda, Schools, Sheryl WuDunn, Students, Tanzania, Training, Transformational Training, Trust Groups, Uganda, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
