Blog Archives

Meet Our Staff: Starting a New Chapter with the Governors

In October 2011, I took a leap of faith leaving some amazing friends and the fast pace of New York City to come back to my sweet hometown of Chicago. I achieved wonderful things in my career, coordinating conferences for 150-2,500 people, special events, outings, and managing a state of the art conference center for Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Meet Our Staff, Microfinance Conference, Strategic Partners, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Happy Mother’s Day! Meet Mother & Kenyan Staff Member Betty Mutua

Betty Mutua, Regional Relationship Officer at Opportunity Kenya and a mother of two, visited the U.S. last month and spoke to us about the challenges and triumphs of being a mom while working full-time and going to school. We were so inspired by the grace with which Betty handles the universal challenges of being a Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Our Work
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My Lunch with Ghanaian Staff Member Vida

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Vida Marfo of Opportunity International. She is the Regional Head of Small/Medium Enterprise (SME) and a Manager for Property Folios at Opportunity Ghana. Vida was kind enough to do an interview with me so I could share what I learned from her with all Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Training, Where We Work
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Finding Renewal Through Faith and Opportunity this Easter

Blessings to you and your family from the entire Opportunity International family. This Easter, as we commemorate Jesus’s crucifixion and celebrate His resurrection, I’m reminded that resurrection need not only mean the miracle that occurred 2,000 years ago, but that renewal can take place in a number of ways in our own lives. Nothing that Read more…

Posted in Events, Faith in Action, Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Where We Work
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YAO-ZA! Young Ambassadors Launches its Denver Chapter

The following post was written by YAO member and YAO-ZA! co-organizer Amy Steinhoff. Greetings from the Denver chapter of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO). We are thrilled to officially become part of the YAO network after YAO-ZA!, our successful chapter launch on Saturday, May 21st. Thanks to a dedicated team and the generous support of Read more…

Posted in Events, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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What We’re Reading: Opportunity Rwanda’s Daniel Ryumugabe & Chicago Supporters Gather to Discuss Left to Tell

On Monday, I joined 15 women for a meeting of the Chicago Women’s Book Discussion Group in the home of Kim Stephens, a member of Opportunity International‘s Board of Governors. The group, led by my Opportunity colleague, regional director Linda Vander Weele, has been meeting regularly for the past two years to discuss books that touch upon Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Faith in Action, Women's Opportunity Network
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Daniel Ryumugabe on Rwandan Microfinance and Transformation

Meet Daniel Ryumugabe, the transformational impact manager from Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB) of Rwanda. Daniel arrived in the U.S. last Saturday for a three-week visit, and several Opportunity staff and supporters had the chance to meet him yesterday at a lunch-and-learn in our Oak Brook offices. About life in Rwanda today, he told us, “Today, Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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YAO-LA Swings into Spring with Swing Dance Event

The following post was written by YAO-LA chapter leader and Spring Swing co-organizer Alison Oviedo. Last Saturday, April 2nd, YAO-Los Angeles hosted a night of swing dancing and fun at the YAO-LA Spring Swing event. With over 90 people in attendance, the dance floor was packed, the room was full of high energy, and young professionals Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Pepperdine University Welcomes Microfinance Loan Officer Susan Chunda

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Los Angeles chapter of YAO brought international guest Susan Chunda, an Opportunity Malawi loan officer, to share her experience with over 250 students on Pepperdine University’s campus. Students were lined up outside waiting to hear from Susan and the YAO-LA chapter about microfinance. Pepperdine students are especially excited about microfinance, as Read more…

Posted in Events, Faith in Action, Insight Trips, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Leadership, Our Work, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Meet Betty Mutua of Opportunity Kenya

“Working in microfinance has transformed me. We use the word ‘transformation’ to describe our client training, but that word also describes how I feel,” says Betty Mutua, a regional manager at . Mutua began working for  as a in 2001, which was also the year she got married. “I’ve been married as long as I’ve been Read more…

Posted in Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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