Blog Archives

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

On behalf of Opportunity International‘s global family, we wish you all the joy, peace, love and blessings of Christmas. More than ever, we’re grateful for your ongoing support of our work, which helps empower our clients and provides life-changing opportunity to their families. Below, please watch a special Christmas message featuring our clients from Malawi, Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Where We Work
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My Family Traditions at Christmas

In the U.S., Christmas is a time when we anticipate the falling of snow, and pine-scented candles, and friends and family. I look forward to most of that (although I actually hate being cold so I’m not looking forward to snow). All things considered, this season is pretty spectacular. Every circle of family and friends Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing
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Empowerment through Microfinance–Meeting Rwandan Microfinance Client Dorosera Mukagahima

Dorosera Mukagahima made our long two-hour bus ride worth the trek to her remote village. She’s the elected treasurer in her Trust Group of about 30, mostly women. In her business she buys and sells goats—about three at a time. She proudly told us of her sturdy mud brick home with a metal roof, situated Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Loans, Our Work, Trust Groups
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What We’re Watching: New Short Film by MicroEnsure on Cashless & Low-Cost Health Insurance in India

The following video was published in a blog post on microensure.com on June 14. MicroEnsure, a subsidiary of Opportunity International, is the world’s first microinsurance intermediary, and it serves people living in poverty with innovative products in crop, loan, health, life and property insurance, offering clients and their families a safety net when an unexpected Read more…

Posted in Microinsurance, Our Work, Where We Work
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Chicago Event: Empowering Women and Rebuilding Afghanistan

I frequently visit the Chicago Council on Global Affairs website to peruse their schedule of multidisciplinary programs, always hoping to find programs on microfinance. When I saw that the Women and Global Development Forum was hosting a program called Rebuilding Afghanistan: A Civilian and Military Perspective, I knew it would be an event not to Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Resources, Women's Opportunity Network
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What Are Your New Year’s Resolutions?

Around the office at Opportunity-US, our staff are gearing up today for the first work day of 2011! And we’ve got a lot of New Year’s resolutions to make this year great–some are big, some are small. Here now are just a few of our goals for 2011: Put my clothes away every single day instead Read more…

Posted in Events
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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
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This Thanksgiving, What Are You Grateful for?

As you sit down to the Thanksgiving table this year, no doubt you’ll be thinking about what makes you thankful. Maybe you’re grateful for your family, your friends, good health, or a great Thanksgiving dinner. At Opportunity, our staff is grateful for these blessings but we’re also incredibly thankful for our clients. We feel privileged Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Loans, Microinsurance, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Savings, Training, Where We Work
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Inspiring the next generation of global citizens

Microfinance is a compelling, sustainable, working solution to global poverty. When a woman receives financial services, she sets into motion monumental changes. Family income rises. Children are well fed. Neighbors become employees. Homes are improved. Tuition is within reach. Women, who comprise 85% of our clients, gain status. For Opportunity clients around the world, these Read more…

Posted in One Hen Children’s Book, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work
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Dreams for the Future: The Women of Uganda’s Peace Trust Group

Guest blogger and Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) member Julie Hindmarsh sends us this report from WON’s “Mothers, Daughters and Sisters” Insight Trip to Uganda. Opening a conversation in Uganda is easy when you ask the question: “What are the challenges you experience in your life?” The women of Opportunity Uganda’s Peace Trust Group talked over Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Trust Groups, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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