Blog Archives

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…

Posted in Faith in Action, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Work, Strategic Partners
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Happy New Year! Thanks For a Great 2010

At Opportunity International, we’re grateful for an exciting and productive year for our efforts to alleviate global poverty. In 2010, thanks to supporters and staff around the world, we achieved many of our goals and were able to serve even more clients working their way out of poverty. Just a few highlights from 2010: Meeting the experts Read more…

Posted in Events, Insight Trips, Strategic Partners, Where We Work
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Teri Goudie, Inspired by Half the Sky, Summits Mount Kilimanjaro for Women in Poverty

One week ago, Teri Goudie, a former TV producer for Chicago’s ABC 7, traveled to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, raising donations for Opportunity International and the Janada L. Batchelor Foundation for Children (JBFC). Goudie was inspired to accomplish this incredible feat after reading the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Sheryl Read more…

Posted in Events, OptINnow, Our Leadership, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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What We’re Reading: “Investing in Women & Girls” (MediaPlanet supplement, USA Today)

 Every Wednesday on our blog, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We’ll feature pieces or 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 Read more…

Posted in Our Work, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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3 Breakout Sessions Not to Miss at Fall Microfinance Conference

At Opportunity’s Fall Microfinance Conference, Oct. 8-9, in Washington, D.C., the days will be packed with breakout sessions and presentations from microfinance experts, international visitors and globally-minded individuals passionate about eradicating poverty. For me, this will be my first Opportunity microfinance conference[/intlink], and I’m really looking forward to hearing from guest speakers[/intlink] like Pulitzer Prize-winner Sheryl Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners, Technology
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What We’re Reading: The ONE Blog– “Africa’s Future is Female”

Every Wednesday on this blog, we’ll be highlighting an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We’ll feature pieces or works that we think are noteworthy, inspiring, educational and relevant to the work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–tell us what you’re reading, or Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Our Work, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Sheryl WuDunn to Speak at Opportunity’s Fall Microfinance Conference in Washington, D.C.

One of the best ways to fight poverty is to educate women and give them economic opportunity. Microfinance institutions are at the center of that solution. I’m looking forward to seeing more and more people getting involved in this effort.   –Sheryl WuDunn (March 2010)  Sheryl WuDunn, an advocate for global women’s issues and proponent of Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Our Work, What We're Reading, Women's Opportunity Network
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Back-to-School for Children Living in Poverty

School administrator Jacinta Njoki, of the Wisdom Junior Educational Center in Kenya, works with her students in the schoolyard. She started her school in 2001 with a $375 loan from Opportunity, and now has 150 kids and six teachers. Welcome back to school. It’s an exciting time for kids of all ages: new teachers, new Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners, Where We Work
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Book Release–UnPoverty: Rich Lessons from the Working Poor

People living in the most extreme poverty in the world do not just survive: they often enjoy rich family relationships, build vibrant communities and exude deep faith. Their ingenuity, persistence, generosity and self-reliance contain teachings for those of us who happen to have been born into relative economic stability. That is the inspiration and the theme of UnPoverty: Read more…

Posted in Events, Faith in Action, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Motivation, Our Work, What We're Reading
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What We’re Reading: Roger Thurow Encourages Rwandan Farmers to “Keep Up the Momentum”

This week, Roger Thurow, Senior Fellow on Global Agriculture and Food Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, posted a blog reporting on an unusual situation for farmers in Kirehe, Rwanda — an agricultural surplus. Thurow examines the situation, interviewing Agnes Kalibata, Rwanda’s minister of agriculture, and discusses the positive impact of USAID’s Feed Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners, Training, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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