Blog Archives

One Woman Transforms her Community in Colombia

By Opportunity International on December 13, 2012

Opportunity Colombia client Beduith María Henao Beltrán is a testament to the power of one woman to make a difference in the lives of many. In winter, Beduith’s street in the city of Barranquilla was clogged with mud and impassable, making life dangerous, unpleasant and inconvenient. This can also make it difficult for residents to Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Loan officer, Loans, Training, Trust Groups, Uncategorized, Women
Tagged Beduith Maria Henao Beltran, Colombia, Community, community organizer, Financial services, Loans, Microfinance, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, south america, Training, Trust Groups, Women

Six Powerful Women Taking Action: The Power of One to Make a Difference

By Emily Terrell on December 5, 2012

We believe in the power of one woman to make a difference. This week, we found stories of six women who are doing their part to impact the lives of many, in their communities and around the world. Each story shows the unique power of one woman, no matter where she is in the world Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, In the News, Our Mission and Vision, What We're Pinning, Women
Tagged afghanistan, amputee, Aung San Suu Kyi, Beduith, Beduith Maria Henao Beltran, Burma, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, Community, Education, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, Korea, Nonprofit, One Woman Holiday Challenge, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, The power of one, Trust Groups, Women

With a Grant from Citi Foundation, Opportunity Brings Financial Solutions to More Colombians

By Opportunity International on November 9, 2012

Opportunity opened a financially-regulated, full-service bank to serve people living in extreme poverty in Bogotá, Colombia in early October. Leveraging a grant from Citi Foundation, a long-time supporter of programs promoting the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low-income people, we’re developing the capacity to conduct formal banking transactions, including interest-bearing savings, with the goal Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Microfinance, Our Leadership, Our Work, Savings, Strategic Partners, Technology, Where We Work
Tagged Bank Building, Bogotá, Citi Foundation, Clients, Colombia, Ending Poverty, Enrique Ordonez, grand opening, Henequen, Latin America, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Poverty, Progress Trust Group, regulated bank, Savings, Technology, Trust Groups

Opportunity Colombia’s Grand Opening Celebration as a Deposit-Taking Bank

By Dennis Ripley on November 5, 2012

Opportunity Colombia celebrated its grand opening event in Bogota last month. As a regulated financial institution, Opportunity Colombia can now offer a full range of financial services to its clients, including interest-bearing savings. By 2015 it aims to reach 60,000 Colombians who live at the base of the economic pyramid. With 150 attendees at the Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Client Stories, Donors, Events, Faith in Action, Loan officer, Local Staffing, Our Leadership, Our Work, Savings, Strategic Partners, T24, Technology, Where We Work
Tagged Bank Building, Board of Directors, Bogotá, capacity-building, Carlos Moreno, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, Credit Suisse, Dennis Ripley, Ending Poverty, Enrique Ordonez, financial inclusion, Financial services, Global Microfinance Operations, grand opening, Harry Turner, Latin America, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Ross Clemenger, Savings, Technology, Temenos T24, Training, Women

Blog Action Day: Beduith from Colombia and “The Power of We”

By Emily Riemer on October 15, 2012

Today, a total of 2,100 blogs, from 111 countries, using 43 different languages, are participating in the fifth annual Blog Action Day. Together, we’re all blogging today about one topic, to raise awareness and participation in an issue for good, and this year’s theme is, “The Power of We.” The theme is described as “a celebration of Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Loans, Our Work, Social Media, Training, Trust Groups, What We're Reading, Where We Work, Women
Tagged 2011 Annual Report, annual report, Barranquilla, Beduith, Blog Action Day, Blogging, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, Community, Ending Poverty, faith, Financial services, Latin America, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Poverty, Social Media, Training, Trust Groups

What We’re Pinning: Entrepreneurs & Labor Day

By Emily Terrell on August 31, 2012

Opportunity wouldn’t exist without the hard work of the millions of entrepreneurs around the world that we are blessed to have as clients. In honor of Labor Day and our clients’ tireless efforts, here are some of our favorite entrepreneurial pins of the week!

Posted in Client Stories, Loans, Our Work, What We're Pinning, Where We Work
Tagged book, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship, infographic, labor day, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Panzanee LLC, Pinterest, Poverty, quotes, success story, Thomas Edison, what we're pinning

The Passing of Ross Clemenger, a Pioneer of Opportunity Colombia

By Opportunity International on July 10, 2012

We were saddened to learn that one of ’s earliest supporters, Ross Clemenger, died unexpectedly on Sunday morning at the age of 88. More than forty years ago, Ross helped Opportunity make its first loan to client Carlos Moreno in Colombia, and the Canadian native was the first executive director and the founder of AGAPE, Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Faith in Action, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Motivation, Our Work, Uncategorized, Where We Work
Tagged agape, Carlos Moreno, Clients, Colombia, Ending Poverty, faith, Faith in Action, Financial services, Global Poverty, God, Implementing Members, In memoriam, Jim Frantz, Latin America, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Mitzi Machado, Opportunity Canada, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Poverty, Ross Clemenger, support members, Transformation

Opportunity Colombia Receives Operational Banking License, Bringing Microfinance to More Impoverished Colombians

By Opportunity International on June 25, 2012

On Friday, June 22, the Superintendency of Finance in Bogotá, Colombia, granted Colombia the final operational banking license it needs to be a deposit-taking and full service bank. Opportunity Colombia‘s CEO Enrique Ordonez and his staff began the process of applying for this license 18 months ago in January 2011, and through perseverance, financial support, and a Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Faith in Action, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Savings, Training, Trust Groups, Where We Work
Tagged Bank Building, Banking, Banking license, Bogotá, Clients, Colombia, displaced persons, Enrique Ordonez, Financial Access, Financial services, Global Poverty, Jon Yasuda, Latin America, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, news, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Poverty, Prayer, Savings, Spanish, Supporters, Training, Trust Groups, violence

What Makes a Good Father? Opportunity Colombia’s Chief Transformation Officer on Fatherhood and the Male Trust Group Project

By Opportunity International on June 17, 2012

Happy Father’s Day! As we celebrate with the fathers in our lives today, we’re examining what qualities make a good dad. For a group of our clients in a pilot project in Colombia, they’re examining that question in depth, and developing their leadership skills as men and fathers. In the post below, Jim Frantz, Opportunity Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Local Staffing, Our Motivation, Training, Trust Groups, Where We Work
Tagged Children, Clients, Colombia, Community, Faith in Action, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, God, Jim Frantz, Latin America, local staff, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Proverbs, spouses, Training, Trust Group, wife

Up Close and Personal: A Firsthand Look at an Insight Trip to Colombia

By Dan Bodwell on May 31, 2012

In late April, Dan Bodwell, Opportunity’s regional director in Los Angeles, took his first , traveling to Colombia with Opportunity Canada staff and supporters. He sent back glowing and detailed reports from his trip. Below, travel along with him with these glimpses into his week. Day 1 I’ve arrived safely in Cartagena. We have a full Read more…

Posted in Faith in Action, Insight Trips, Our Motivation, Our Work, Trust Groups, Where We Work
Tagged Cartagena, Cartagena Jones, Client Stories, Clients, Colombia, Dan Bodwell, Financial services, indigenous people, Insight Trip, Jim Frantz, Loans, Microfinance, Opportunity Canada, Opportunity Colombia, Opportunity International, Poverty, Savings, Travel, Trust Groups

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