Blog Archives

Today is the First-Ever United Nations International Day of the Girl

Today marks an exciting event! It’s the first official UN International Day of the Girl Child, a day to highlight, celebrate, discuss, and advance girls’ lives and opportunities around the globe. The campaign to establish this day was led in the U.S. by School Girls Unite, and internationally by Plan International and CIDA. The Day Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Education, Events, In the News, Insight Trips, Loans, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Where We Work, Women
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Empowering Women & Girls with Half the Sky

Though microfinance is available to both men and women entrepreneurs, the gains that women achieve are almost three times more likely to be reinvested in their children—providing a powerful generational multiplier that accelerates economic growth. A woman will spend 90% of her income on her family, while men typically spend only 35%. That’s why if Read more…

Posted in Education, Events, Loans, Local Staffing, Online Giving, Our Method, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Women's Opportunity Network
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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…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Local Staffing, Women's Opportunity Network
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Female Empowerment at the International Women’s Day Festival in Chennai

The following post was written by Opportunity International supporter Eric Schade, traveling on our International Women’s Day Insight Trip to India this week. Here, he reflects on the International Women’s Day celebrations he saw in Chennai on day two into his travels. Female empowerment. That was the theme of today’s International Woman’s Day festival, loud and clear. With inspirational Read more…

Posted in Events, Insight Trips, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Trust Groups, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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“Banking on Women” with Access to Microsavings

The following piece, “Banking on Women,” was published in USA Today‘s special supplement “Investing in Women & Girls” on Friday, March 4. In Blantyre, Malawi, dozens of women sell potatoes in the marketplace. But Grace Msowoya and her business partner Betty Louhana stand out. Frustrated by their small profit margins, they became the first women to Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Resources, Rural Outreach, Savings, Technology, What We're Reading, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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What We’re Reading: “To Fight Poverty, Invest in Girls” (Time Magazine)

Every Wednesday, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series, featuring pieces that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the work we do at Opportunity International. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–-tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following post Read more…

Posted in Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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What We’re Reading: “Microfinance: Women’s Way Out”

Every Wednesday, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–-tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Loans, Local Staffing, Microinsurance, Our Work, Savings, Training, Trust Groups, What We're Reading, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Today, Honor Human Rights Defenders, Celebrate Human Rights Day 2010

Human rights are the foundation of freedom, peace, development and justice[...] On this Human Rights Day, let us be inspired by those seeking to make our world more just. And let us remember that everyone — no matter their background, training or education — can be a human rights champion.    -UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Motivation, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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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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What We’re Reading: “Women Find Freedom through Land Ownership”

Every Wednesday, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following Read more…

Posted in Our Work, Rural Outreach, What We're Reading, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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