Blog Archives

Would You Like the Chance to Travel to Tanzania this Summer?

Enter now through May 11, 2011 for a chance to win a spot on Opportunity International’s Insight Trip to Tanzania in August. You’ll become our multimedia reporter on the ground and experience firsthand how Opportunity’s microfinance initiatives help our clients create change in their lives. To enter, visit www.opportunity.org/contest and answer the following in 100 words Read more…

Posted in Events, Insight Trips, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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From Uganda to Oak Park, Ill.: Gathering to Brunch & Learn with Brenda Nabwala

I was moved and inspired to be able to join more than 40 engaged women gathered in suburban Chicago this past Saturday to meet Opportunity Uganda’s Brenda Nabwala, listening to her personal stories and learning how investing in women helps change the world faster. At the lovely Oak Park, Ill. home of Opportunity supporter Ann Read more…

Posted in Events, Insight Trips, Local Staffing, Where We Work, 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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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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What We’re Reading: “How Small Loans Are Pulling Kenyans Out of Poverty Trap”

Kenya’s Daily Nation posted a piece this weekend that applauded microfinance institutions for offering financial solutions that reach more Kenyan people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. The article praises microfinance for helping to alleviate poverty in the developing world. The microfinance model has proved to be ”a potent tool for increasing access to finance, expanding production and opening Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Savings, Technology, Training, Trust Groups, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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What We’re Watching: Meet Alice Norah Lajwa, Emerging Leader from Opportunity Uganda

Banking on Women: Alice Norah Lajwa from Opportunity International on Vimeo. Alice Norah Lajwa of Opportunity Uganda is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Emerging Leaders Program. Alice says, “What I’ve learned in this program will help me transform the lives of my women clients. [...] I try to encourage women to save. Read more…

Posted in Local Staffing, Strategic Partners, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Finding Empowerment in a Trust Group at an Indian Leprosy Colony

The following guest post was written by Julie Hindmarsh. Julie is a clinical instructor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Md. specializing in public health and global health care. She is a member of the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) and serves on the board of Opportunity’s microinsurance subsidiary MicroEnsure. She sends this Read more…

Posted in Events, Trust Groups, Where We Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Half the World’s LDCs Can Emerge from Poverty, Says a New UN Report

On Tuesday, March 29, the United Nations issued a report, summarized at un.org under the title “Half of world’s poorest countries can escape poverty by 2020.” According to the report, which was produced by the Group of Eminent Persons appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, half the world’s 48 least developed countries (LDCs) can “graduate” out of Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Our Mission and Vision
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You’re Invited on a Tanzanian Adventure

You’ve read about it on our blog, now see the impact of Opportunity’s microfinance work firsthand. Opportunity International leads a dozen or more Insight Trips every year to meet our clients, staff and see how our work helps individuals and families create change in their lives. July 30-August 6, 2011 Travel with young professionals and Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Our Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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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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