Three girls, one shirt, one pair of shoes, 100 days, 2,500 dollars, 17 women, 85 lives. What does this mean? Nothing to most of us, but when those three girls are Abby, Bethany, and Chrissy it means a lot more. These three junior high girls decided to wear one shirt and one pair of shoes for 100 days to raise over $2,500! And for what? To do something that could help 17 women and their families in the developing world improve their lives.

Three junior high Opportunity supporters go "Plaid for People" and tell their story on Opportunity Canada's blog. (From left: Bethany, Chrissy and Abby)

“After reading ‘Do Hard Things‘ by Alex and Brett Harris we were inspired to make a difference. We really wanted to do something, anything really,” Bethany said, “so after some research we decided to raise money for Opportunity International. We wanted to do something useful with our teen years. We wanted to change lives.” And so they did by starting the “Plaid For People” campaign.

The project started on November 1, 2011 and will come to an end on February 8, 2012. On their story page on OpportunityCan–Opportunity Canada’s online platform where people can share their story, raise funds and invite others to end poverty and transform lives–the girls said:

We are wearing one shirt and one pair of shoes for 100 days. The shirt represent the very small amount of clothing that people in poverty have compared to us, and the shoes represent that 50% of the world (300 million of them being children) do not have shoes, and even if they do, they only have one pair.

By doing this we’re trying to place ourselves in their shoes, literally. We will be going around door-to-door in our neighborhoods raising money, holding events at our church and anything else that we can to meet our goal.

And they did. They fundraised at their church, craft fairs, Ten Thousand Villages, and a little bit in their neighborhoods. Arlene, Abby’s mom, said, “The three girls have astonished us with their dream to change world poverty through sacrifice and wearing one shirt and one pair of shoes for one hundred days to both experience simplicity and to raise awareness for Opportunity International.” She went on to say, “As a parent of one of the girls, I was skeptical. So I chose to sit back and ‘just see’ if they could actually raise money this way. But all their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence has inspired many in our community! I’ve had to, fortunately, rearrange my thinking about teenagers and not put a lid on their dreams and abilities.”

So why on earth would three junior high girls want to do something like this? When we asked why they responded with, “For the glory of God.”

To learn more about the Plaid for People project, leave comments or make a donation, visit plaidforpeople.opportunitycan.ca.

NOTE (Opportunity Canada): The 17 women helped was calculated by taking the $2,500 raised and dividing it by the average loan size to first time clients of $142. For every one loan, it is our estimate that 4-6 others (children, relatives, employees, etc.) are impacted. Therefore the 85 lives impacted was calculated by taking the number of potential loans, 17, multiplied by 5, average number of others impacted. Funds that are generously raised and donated to Opportunity International are used to provide financial services, including loans, savings, insurance and training, to people trapped in poverty who can benefit from them.

Dick Leathers, member of the Board of Governors, shared how he educates church members in Houston, where frequently the reaction is “Wow, I didn’t know about that. That’s pretty cool.” Leathers said that he describes Opportunity to friends and family as a “hand up, not a hand out.”

Breakout session panel (from left): Dick Leathers, Monica Perez, Betsy Perdue, Amelia Gingold and Sonya Perez-Lauterbach.

Monica Perez, Denver chapter co-chair, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, shared the story of the YAO Denver grew from two passionate leaders to a network of nearly 120 volunteers. Perez noted that the chapter doesn’t limit its time together to just planning meetings, but they also plan happy hours and weekend retreats to bond and create fun memories.

Betsy Perdue, board member, Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), emphasizes the feasible and tangible ways to make an impact. She shared her own outreach, as well as how her young daughter created a party and fundraising plan to benefit Opportunity, and how a group of 80 second-graders collected pennies into homemade piggy banks to fund three microloans.

Amelia Gingold, communication relations for Sunshine Sachs & Associates, closed the panel with advice on how to share your passion with others. Gingold noted that contributing to Opportunity isn’t limited to fundraising, but can be as small as taking a few minutes during dinner or a book club to share your passion, and show pictures from your Opportunity Insight Trips. She advised the audience to “think about what makes your heart happy, and put that into a sentence,” and to use that as the foundation to mold your volunteer and outreach initiatives.

Overall, the panel reiterated that getting involved and volunteering should be fun, and shaped by the interests and talents of the individual. There’s no limit in how to make an impact through Opportunity International. As Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, the manager of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, said at the beginning of the session, “If it ain’t fun, it’s hard to get done.”

This post was written by Allison Altdoerffer. Allison is a public relations professional and a member of the YAO – San Francisco chapter.

Ann is carrying only 20 pounds of supplies on her back and staying in rustic hostels along the way. “Trusting that my daily needs will be met by the community along the Camino,” she says, “I will be living a simple life of faith, not unlike the women who are members of Opportunity Trust Groups.”

Explaining her motivation, Ann says, “For over seven years, I have been dedicated to supporting Opportunity International as it empowers women living in poverty in the developing world to create and grow businesses so that they may support, educate, and nurture their families. I am inspired by the miraculous changes that occur in the lives of these courageous women and in their families and communities.” Last year, Ann and her husband Steven Brooks, who live in Baltimore, Md., joined the Board of Governors in order to even further deepen their commitment to Opportunity.

Ann has the generous support of the T. Rowe Price Associates Foundation, which will match any funds (up to $10,000) donated by T. Rowe Price employees to her online fundraiser. Show your support for Ann’s pilgrimage by contributing to her online fundraiser, which is still accepting donations, and by sharing words of encouragement on her fundraiser page.

Want to put your faith into action? Support Opportunity through a walk, run, birthday, or any other event or life challenge. Go to opportunity.org/fundraiser to start your own online fundraiser today.

Young professional Sarah jumps out of a plane for Opportunity Tanzania.

Top 5 Creative Fundraisers

1. United Wii Stand
   Students at St. George’s University in Grenada organized a campus-wide Wii tournament to raise money for Doctors Without Borders‘s relief efforts for the 2010 floods in Pakistan.
2. 52 New Things
   One individual vowed to do one new thing per week for all of 2010. The activities ranged from eating the spiciest curry possible, to writing a book, to walking an alpaca, to getting a tattoo–all to benefit The Alzheimer’s Society.
3. Slum Survivor Team
   One of several fundraisers promoted by Soul Action, a group of high school-age students received pledges to spend three days and two nights in a slum built entirely from local trash. They existed on a reduced diet and with limited access to running water, in solidarity with the more than 1 billion people who live in extreme poverty.
4. Trek China
   In September 2010, 20 supporters, including some who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, did an 80K trek on the Great Wall of China to raise money for the organization Parkinson’s UK.
5. “Twea Party”
   Utilizing social media to the fullest, the Marie Curie Cancer Care organization staged this tea party on Twitter, enabling users to tweet to join in the online conversation and donate.

Share your responses to our list below and let us know if we missed a great fundraiser idea.

This post was written by Jacqueline Ryan, an intern in Opportunity’s Outreach & New Initiatives department. Jacqueline is an undergraduate student majoring in international studies at the University of Chicago.

When Ben Chelf and Kim Whittaker got engaged, they knew they wanted to do something a little different for their wedding.

“We’re in our 30′s,” Ben says, “so we’re more established than when we were younger. We don’t necessarily need to get a bunch of gifts, so we thought it would be great to give people the option to give money to a charity instead.”

Ben Chelf and Kim Whittaker's engagement photo from their Better Than a Blender fundraiser

So Ben and Kim put a link on their wedding website to the Better Than a Blender fundraiser they created on opportunity.org. For guests who really want to send a traditional gift, the couple lists a few stores where they’re registered, but for friends who want to give something a little different, Ben and Kim offer them a chance to support a great cause: Opportunity’s work to end poverty through microfinance. Adding to the appeal, the couple says they “saw how easy the online fundraiser is to set up and promote.” They’re also offering a match for all donations so that their fundraiser will make an even greater impact.

For other couples considering launching a fundraiser for their nuptials, Ben and Kim say they encourage it. “A wedding is a good time to think about how you’re allocating your time as a couple,” says Ben. “You’re bringing two lives together, and this is a good opportunity to get off on the right foot, choosing what you want to value together.”

To contribute to Ben and Kim’s Better Than a Blender fundraiser, click here. To start your own fundraiser for your wedding, birthday, graduation or other occasion, visit opportunity.org/fundraisers today.

Brenda Nabwala (center) shares her stories with attendees, with Susan Gillette (left) and Ruth-Anne Renaud (right).

At the lovely Oak Park, Ill. home of Opportunity supporter Ann Treimer, the event began with a delicious brunch and a chance to mingle and meet new people. Then the women were seated in the living room for presentations by Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) member Susan Gillette and myself, followed by a Q-&-A  with Ugandan loan officer Brenda. I posed questions to Brenda and she shared stories from her childhood, as one of 22 children, and told all about her work to improve the lives of Opportunity Uganda’s women clients. She shared how rewarding it is to visit her clients, and see their their businesses grow and their children graduate from school. She also talked about the honor she felt to be selected as a participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Emerging Leaders Program in Kenya. She learned practical business skills and more importantly, she learned to believe in herself and her capabilities.  Brenda’s clients call her “teacher” and she served as a teacher for us for the morning.

The ladies listening to the presentation by Brenda Nabwala.

We opened up our discussion, and the attendees had the opportunity to ask questions as well. Finally, a woman in the audience raised her hand and asked Brenda, “One day, when you reach the end of your life, what is one goal you hope to have accomplished?” Brenda paused and then proudly looked out at the audience and replied, “I hope to have people believe in me.”

I feel this is a perfect embodiment of why Opportunity encourages our supporters to invest in women. When we empower women staff and clients with the tools they need to succeed, they can and do improve their own lives, their economic situations and they take on leadership roles in their communities.

As I looked around the room, I was moved to see a group of women who believe in the need and the power of investing in women, and are committed to taking action. Through their commitment and generosity, we raised more than $7,500 for our clients in Uganda that day. I am also grateful for the hospitality of our co-hostesses, WON members Dawn Feller, Susan Gillette, Betsy Perdue and Jill Dailey Smith.

Attendee Regina Carls won a raffle for the beautiful floral centerpiece.

If you would like to come alongside Opportunity International in our work to empower women clients to create change in their lives, we encourage you to take action in one of the following ways:

• Contribute to our Opportunity Uganda fundraiser, helping us reach the goal of $10,000 for Ugandan women by Mother’s Day (May 8th).
• Host a WON Brunch & Learn to raise awareness and support for Opportunity’s women clients around the world.
• Travel on the “Mothers, Daughters & Sisters” Insight Trip to Uganda in June.

Thank you to everyone who made Saturday a wonderful day full of learning, fellowship and inspiration. We hope you will share highlights from the day and encourage your friends to be a part of this effort. Visit the Banking on Women Campaign page at opportunity.org/bankingonwomen and join us for our next WON Brunch & Learn event.

So, how can you help?

Jump for Opportunity

There’s still time to donate to one of the Jumpers’ fundraisers on optinnow.org. Go to jumpforopportunity.com and click on a Jumper’s photo to get started. Give to Bert’s “Super Poverty Punchout,” “Sarah is Jumping Create Opportunity” and more. Help them reach their $100,000 goal to alleviate poverty in Tanzania.

Good news travels fast

Read about Jump for Opportunity on the Wall Street Journal's blog.

Jump for Opportunity has been getting a lot of buzz lately! Today, news of the Jump appeared in the Wall Street Journal‘s blog. Show your support for the Jumpers by clicking ‘Like’ on the article page. Plus, there have been profiles of Jumpers and articles in local media like The Ada Herald in Ohio, The Cary News in N.C., NJ.com in New Jersey and more.

This weekend, jump alongside the entrepreneurs facing their fears to fight global poverty. Follow @jump4opp on Twitter and ‘Like’ Jump for Opportunity on Facebook to stay up to date on all the news from the Jump.

Do you want to make a difference in the life of an individual living in poverty? Virtually anyone who wants to contribute to poverty alleviation can make an impact through hosting a small fundraising event.

Opportunity-US staff fill up their bowls with chili.

For example, here at Opportunity’s U.S. headquarters, our fall interns hosted the First Annual Chili Cook-Off to end their semester with a delicious bang. The event proved to be a fun time for Opportunity employees to gather together and successfully raised funds for Opportunity’s operations in South Africa via an OptINnow fundraiser.

“Small events are beneficial to Opportunity’s global operations because they’re a fun, easy way to help others in need,” said Prospect Researcher Dan Zarlenga. “I’m a big believer in the idea that there’s many ways to help people, and who would’ve thought that making chili would do just that? And events like this are win-win for everybody – people in poverty are helped through the money raised, and those making the donations get to enjoy delicious chili, so what’s better than that?”

When noon rolled around on the day of the cook-off, chili lovers congregated in Opportunity’s lunchroom, ready to sample each chili and vote for the tastiest recipe. Marketing Communications Specialist Emily Riemer’s meaty chili was a big hit with several of the men in the office and was quickly finished off. Indonesian chili made by VP of Strategic Initiatives Steve Nelson and his wife Sharon was distinctively delicious due to its exotic spices. Major Events Specialist Lauren Jones’ meat chili included cheddar cheese and egg noodles, making mouths water. Dan’s creative concoction was a delicious blend that was particularly remarkable because it was a near-disaster: “I originally used way too small of a pot,” said Dan. “I had to transfer the chili mid-cooking into a larger one, which made me lose a quarter of the chili as it splashed everywhere.” Ultimately, Proposal Writer Marissa Benner’s top-secret recipe chili won the votes of most of the chili cook-off participants. Her flavorful vegetarian blend included onions, peppers and avocado, among other things.

Chili cook-off co-organizers hold up funds they raised for South Africa. From left to right: Kari, Allison, Eric and Emily.

A chili cook-off like this is surprisingly simple to plan. First, the interns created an online fundraiser on OptINnow and sent out a short email to everyone in the office with details about the event and the cause, and invited them to enter a batch of their chili in the cook-off competition. After getting several excited responses from chili cooks, we sent out an email explaining what to bring with their chili on the day of the event (a Crock-Pot® or slow cooker, ladle, and a creative name for their chili). The day before the event, we sent out a reminder to all in the office and encouraged anyone who couldn’t attend the lunch to donate to our OptINnow fundraiser instead. The interns brought bread to accompany the chili, as well as serving supplies and a place for tasters to cast their votes for the winner.

“With very little preparation and organization needed–less than an hour–the chili cook-off was a low-stress way to build community,” said fall intern Kari Wagner. “I enjoyed the opportunity it provided to spend time with people from all different departments.”

With the winter season in full swing, who wouldn’t want to help alleviate poverty by sampling a warm bowl of chili? Plan your own winter Opportunity fundraiser and use the comment field below to share with us how it went!

Background:
Opportunity International has a bold vision to bring life-changing financial services to five million impoverished people in sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years, where less than 10% of the population has an account with a financial institution. In 2008, Opportunity launched the Banking on Africa campaign to help develop an array of financial services that address the capital infrastructure needs of communities isolated from the financial system. For more, visit: opportunity.org/bankingonafrica.

Introduction:

• Banking on Africa focuses on rural families because 75% of people in Africa live in rural areas, and most of those are farmers.
• People need access to microfinance safety nets like loans, savings, and microinsurance because short-term economic setbacks can lead to long-term problems for households in poverty.
• Savings accounts are in extremely high demand enabling people to better prepare for their futures.

They are expanding this model in certain countries, such as with agricultural finance program in Malawi. The goals:

• To reach every family within 60 minutes of their homes, more recently aiming for 20 minutes
• Expansion of big branches, with smaller satellite branches in small villages
• Banking kiosks and ATMs
• Mobile banking vehicles are used to test demand before setting up kiosks
• Six mobile banking vehicles are already in use in Malawi

Two technology breakthroughs:

1. Point-of-sale (POS) devices:

• In retail shops (food stores, gas stations, post office)
• Less costly than brick-and-mortar banks
• Convenience and security of biometric smart cards to: make a loan payment, draw down from a loan, make deposits
• Transfer between accounts
• Reduction of transaction costs: branch banks $2.00, POS $0.20, cell phone banking $0.05 (lower for POS and cell phone banking due to fewer overhead costs like buildings or employees)

2. Mobile phone banking: Mobile phone ownership in Africa is growing fast. With an estimated 15 million mobile phone banking customers with Safaricom carrier alone, there is the potential to reach 90-95% of country in cost-efficient manner

Agricultural finance can be risky, and most commercial banks steer clear as a result. So key components of Opportunity’s agricultural finance program involves strategies to mitigate risks:

• GPS mapping of land to accurately determine land size
• Questionnaires to determine family size, cash flow of household to understand the financial situation, potential or limitations, of the family and determine appropriate loan levels
• Lend to borrowers with a good credit history with Opportunity
• Don’t over-indebt borrowers (protect borrowers)

Two of our major strategic partners in this program are the Gates Foundation and the MasterCard Foundation. These foundations don’t push for certain directions, allow Opportunity flexibility and spend time on the ground seeing Opportunity’s work firsthand, and they have a good alignment with Opportunity philosophy and strategies. They want to see continued focus on access to savings accounts for rural families, and an emphasis on moving small farmers from subsistence to commercial farming–want to do projects well, at scale, in a sustainable manner.

Opportunity’s due diligence before starting a bank in a country:

• Thorough market assessment, entry strategies
• Entry strategies specifically tailored for different countries
• Discussions with central bankers
• Acquiring deposit-taking license to get access to cheap funds
• Access capital markets once bank is sustainable
• Research and development on how to better reach clients

Opportunity fundraising goal for 2012: $384 million–

• $220 million from client deposits ($50 million raised so far)
• $124 million from donors ($109 million raised so far)
• $40 million from loans ($24 million raised so far)

Watch our video on Banking on Africa:

Brandon Green (seated front right) and his friends raised $200 a few weeks ago to help fund the loan of client Donasian on OptINnow.

Escape to Bear Mountain, N.Y.

YAO-NY member Brandon Green, an investment banker, was looking for a way to get out of the city. So he decided to start a “YAO Adventure Club of sorts,” and brought a group of ten people up to hike on Bear Mountain, N.Y. a few weekends ago.

“Everyone chipped in for the rental car,” he says, “and we donated those proceeds to help fund client Donasian Mbiry‘s loan in Tanzania through our YAO Adventure Club group on OptINnow. We got some cool pictures of us all at the top too (see picture at right).”

Thanks to the $200 Brandon and the group raised, Donasian’s $700 loan has now been funded to $325. 

Getting Muddy in L.A.

On Saturday, August 21, Alison Oviedo battled the mud field at the LA Mud Run in Pasadena with fellow YAO-LA leaders Kristina Olinger, Bianca Javier and Mandy Cheung.  

Dressed in a beach theme for the LA Mud Run on Aug. 21, YAO-LA members had a blast getting muddy. "I may have taken the costume a little bit too far!" laughed Alison (pictured far right).

“We ran this 5K,” says Alison, ”because it sounded like a lot of fun and we thought it would be a great way to bring people together while raising funds for Opportunity’s work in Tanzania. The five of us had a great time running through the mud and obstacle courses, and we’re hoping to make it an annual event. We plan to get even more creative with our costumes next year–we went with a beach theme this time!” 

The mud runners have raised a total of $845 so far for Tanzanian entrepreneurs, and you can still donate to Mandy’s fundraiser, Mud Run for a Bright Future, on OptINnow.    

So, are you as adventurous as these http://www.opportunity.org/young-ambassadors-for-opportunity/YAO[/intlink] members? Go to OptINnow, where you can create your own fundraiser, and let your adventures fund the loans of entrepreneurs in the developing world. You can invite your family, friends, co-workers and social network friends to track your progress, donate and share the victory when you reach your goals. Go to optinnow.org/fundraisers now to get started.