Beduith on one of the streets she improved with her Trust Group

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 get to their jobs and operate their businesses. As president of La Valle de Esperanza Trust Group, Beduith rallied the members to raise matching funds for the local mayor’s street paving project. Together, they sold soup, hosted bingo, ran a dance event and raised $7,200 for a new road that makes life easier, safer, cleaner and better for the entire neighborhood. Once shy and reserved, she now says, “I’ve been given the opportunity to grow, and to help others grow too.”

Beduith (left) and her Opportunity Colombia loan officer

A few years ago, Beduith got her first Opportunity International loan to expand her furniture repair shop, which she and her husband Moses Henao have operated out of their home for the past 17 years. The loans from Opportunity Colombia allowed them to buy the materials they need, and Opportunity financial training taught her how to manage her income and expenses to make the business even more profitable. With her increased income and financial security, Beduith was able to build a new home, send her children to school and even save some money for the future. Right now, the couple employs four people, but eventually Beduith wants to hire enough employees so that she and Moses can retire.

Beduith’s story is not unusual. When Opportunity’s women clients break out of the cycle of poverty, they get more than a steady income. They often find a hidden inner strength, contributing to the community, inspiring others and shaping day-to-day life. That’s the power of one. Invest in women like Beduith today »

Client Argelia Ramirez (right), a shop owner in Henequen, Colombia, now has a safe place to save.

“We have provided loans and training to the Colombian people for more than 40 years,” said Enrique Ordonez, Opportunity Colombia’s CEO. “Thanks to the generous support of the Citi Foundation, our clients will also have a safe place to save their money, a critical tool for those working their way out of poverty. This new financial intermediary has as its sole objective to offer opportunities to the less fortunate so that they have the opportunity to save money and plan for the future.”

In a country where more than 12.7 million people live on less than $2 a day, and only 2.5% are using microfinance services, Opportunity Colombia will enable marginalized people, especially women, to engage in the local economy, overcome extreme poverty and build stronger communities. Currently, more than 75% of Opportunity Colombia clients are women.

Opportunity Colombia CEO Enrique Ordonez speaks at the grand opening celebration.

“Opportunity Colombia’s bank will provide those outside the economic mainstream with greater access to financial resources they need to begin building a more stable future for themselves and their families,” said Pamela Flaherty, President and CEO, Citi Foundation. “We are pleased that the support of the Citi Foundation will enable Opportunity International to expand financial inclusion in Bogotá.”

Celebrating this important milestone, Opportunity Colombia hosted a grand opening event last month in Bogotá, attended by international dignitaries, philanthropists, corporations and clients as well as local and international Opportunity staff.

Learn more about this grant from Citi Foundation »

John de Bruyn, with emcee Jenny Alexandra Reyes, leads the group in prayer

With 150 attendees at the beautiful Metropolitan Club, in the hills above Bogota, Opportunity Colombia’s CEO Enrique Ordonez and his staff were on hand to welcome the finance community, local corporations, donors, the Board of Directors and Opportunity International’s global operations staff. Jenny Alexandra Reyes, Chief of Collections at Opportunity Colombia, was the emcee, and John de Bruyn, Chair of Opportunity Colombia’s Board, led the group in an opening prayer, giving thanks for the opportunity to help people in poverty to transform their lives.

Opportunity Colombia CEO Enrique Ordonez at the podium

Enrique welcomed attendees and thanked staff and supporters. Since 1973, he said, loans have been a critical tool Opportunity used to help impoverished Colombians build or expand their businesses. In 1971, Mr. Ross Clemenger, a Canadian Citizen who developed his pastoral activities in our country, gave the first Opportunity loan in Colombia to Mr. Carlos Moreno. Though Mr. Clemenger passed in July, his work is more vigorous today that ever. But in these years, one equally vital tool was missing: savings. “Tonight,” Enrique said, ”we open the doors of a new financial intermediary that has as its sole objective to offer opportunities to the less fortunate [so that they can] save money.”

Alois Gitterle of Credit Suisse

Alois Gitterle, Director and Senior Client Advisor at Credit Suisse, highlighted the continuing need for capacity development, financial inclusion and effective training in the microfinance sector to keep up with its exponential growth. The collaboration between Credit Suisse and MFIs like Opportunity Colombia helps to accomplish this, enabling Opportunity to develop the people, processes and products it needs in Colombia to meet its social and financial goals and increase its geographic footprint to new areas, adding four new branches in the cities of Bogota and Cucuta. Alois discussed the Microfinance Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI), established in 2008, which is funded through the Credit Suisse Foundation and complements the bank’s long-term business engagement in the sector, leveraging their banking expertise. They’re proud of their long history in microfinance. They were recently awarded a special commendation for microfinance engagement in connection with the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation Sustainable Finance Awards in recognition of 10 years of comprehensive and complementary work in microfinance across all divisions of the bank.

Client Cecilia Oquendo Gomez prepares to cut the ribbon

Credit Suisse also contributes funding and expertise to the training of thousands of staff members at microfinance institutions around the world, including Opportunity Colombia. They help to develop a quality workforce by partnering with Opportunity Colombia in NextGeneration Banker staff training and development programs. And they helped implement the back-office technology Opportunity Colombia needed to gain constitutional and operational licenses, such as the T24 banking system. “Credit Suisse is proud to partner with the dedicated management and staff of Opportunity Colombia,” Alois concluded. “We’re satisfied that this is a bank that will continue to adopt best practices well into the future.”

The ribbon cutting

Harry Turner, CEO of Opportunity International’s Global Microfinance Operations, noted that what sets Opportunity Colombia apart from other local MFIs is its dedication to holistic client transformation. Clients gain improved economic status, are better able to build their capacity in business and in life, and they receive social support from their Trust Group and the guidance of their loan officer. And this philosophy led to Opportunity’s Code of Conduct, which reminds us to always treat clients with dignity, fairness and respect, offering transparent fees and clearly explained contractual obligations.

Cecilia Oquendo Gomez, one of Opportunity Colombia’s most successful clients, told the sad story of her daughter Vanessa’s long battle with cancer. When Vanessa passed away a few years ago, it was difficult not only because they had lost their daughter, but because their deep debt from her medical fees meant that they risked losing the business they had worked years to build. Even though Cecilia’s first loan from Opportunity was small, that capital and her subsequent loans helped her to slowly reestablish her family’s business.

David Simms hands a commemorative plaque to Carlos Moreno, with Enrique Ordonez at right

Finally, David Simms, Chairman of the Board of Opportunity’s Global Microfinance Operations, took center stage to thank Opportunity’s donor community for their unwavering support, patience and trust in the goal to make this day a reality. More than 1,000 partners contributed to this historic effort, including Credit Suisse; Caterpillar Foundation; Citi Foundation; InterAmerican Development Bank; private foundations (Soran Foundation, John and Jacque Weberg Foundation); as well as the Robert Jenkins Family, Warren and Mary Lynn Staley, and Alan Barnhart. David presented a commemorative plaque to Carlos Moreno, Opportunity’s first loan client, honoring him for his historical place in Opportunity International’s legacy.

As David told the crowd, “The grand opening and expansion of Opportunity Colombia is the result of a strong and sustaining vision, great commitment, hard work and abiding faith. I share this joyful moment with the entire Opportunity International family of staff and supporters.”

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Opportunity Colombia!

Beduith, on one of the streets she improved with her Trust Group

When I heard the theme, one of the first people to pop into my head was Beduith. Beduith María Henao Beltran of Barranquilla, Colombia, is a perfect example of an Opportunity client who improved her life, her financial situation, and then used her voice to change something in her community for the better, encouraging her friends and neighbors to join her. (We gave a glimpse into Beduith’s story on page 6 of our Annual Report.)

A few years ago, Beduith got her first Opportunity International loan to expand her furniture repair shop, which she and her husband Moses Henao have operated out of their home for the past 17 years. The loans from Opportunity Colombia allowed them to buy the materials they need, and business training taught her how to manage her income and expenses to make the business even more profitable. With her increased income and financial security, Beduith was able to build a new home, send her children to school and even save some money for the future. Right now, the couple employs four people, but eventually Beduith wants to hire enough employees so that she and Moses can retire.

Beduith and Moses, rebuilding their home in Barranquilla

In winter, the streets of Barranquilla are clogged with mud and impassable, making daily life dangerous, unpleasant and inconvenient, which can also make it difficult for residents to get to their jobs and operate their businesses. Beduith refused to merely accept these conditions. As president of La Valle de Esperanza Trust Group, she rallied the members to raise matching funds for the local mayor’s street paving project. Together, they sold soup, hosted bingo, ran a dance event, and raised $7,200 for a new road that makes life easier, safer, cleaner and better for the entire neighborhood.

Beduith’s story is not unusual. When Opportunity’s clients can break out of the cycle of poverty, they get more than a steady income. They often find a hidden inner strength and take on responsibilities like holding public office, leading a church group, and standing up to take action for the good of the community. They inspire others and shape day-to-day life. It’s hard to believe Beduith was once shy and reserved! She now says, “God gave me the opportunity to grow and to help others grow too.”

Congratulations, Beduith. You’re an inspiration to us all, reminding us that wherever we live, we should stand up for the greater good.

Check out highlights from other Blog Action Day posts on “The Power of We.”

Ross Clemenger and the CEO of AGAPE, Mitzi Machado, during Mitzi’s 2005 visit to Opportunity Canada

Ross was such an amazing visionary, inspiration, and I had the privilege to call him my friend and advisor. So many times I called him when I was facing a difficult situation or just needed some advice. He was always willing to talk, and in so doing, gave me pragmatic and solid guidance. He called them as he saw them. He rejoiced with us in our victories and humbly and in good humor accepted our challenges and defeats. He was so wise and so full of life stories, with a humble yet certain faith and a crystal clear vision.

One of my favorite quotes from him was when he was speaking to Opportunity’s Latin American board members last year. Someone asked him if Opportunity International, with all of its growth, was what he hoped it would be. He told the group that when he started working with Opportunity, he felt he was cutting a path through a field with a machete. As he cut away he was afraid it would be too narrow and not able to help enough people or that it would become too broad and lose its transformational impact. At that time, he stated that what he saw emerging was a broad highway with a bright line painted down the middle. It was able to serve many, but always had that white line in the middle defining its transformational vision of reflecting God’s love and seeking His impact in their lives. Our biggest tribute and way of thanking our beloved Ross is to maintain that highway in good condition, always adding lanes, but ensuring that that bright line shines in the middle of the road.

Dinner on the 2005 trip to Canada with Ross Clemenger and his late wife Gerri (right), and Opportunity Colombia’s Jim Frantz and Mitzi Machado (left)

Ross and family, thank you for your years of commitment, your support and your sacrifice for our beloved Colombia. We don’t know how long God will give us to serve this organization, but may we fight to honor the vision of our God and the men and women who founded this organization for His glory. Ross, you are so loved and will be so missed on this earth. “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Page 1 of the “Resolución Superintendencia Financiera,” the resolution granting our banking license in Colombia!

On Friday, June 22, the Superintendency of Finance in Bogotá, Colombia, granted Opportunity International 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 lot of prayer, they have finally achieved this goal. Now the bank can take savings deposits and conduct formal banking activities in addition to the traditional Trust Group loans it previously offered. It will bring these much-needed financial services to many more unbanked Colombians–including those displaced by decades of violence–who struggle daily against the cycle of extreme poverty.

Upon receiving the news, Enrique Ordonez addressed a grateful message to Opportunity’s global staff, saying:

After a long process and a lot of hard work from all the team in Colombia, today the Superintendency of Finance granted our final license, legally authorizing Opportunity to begin operations in Colombia as a regulated financial intermediary[...] The license is going to be a great help for the most needy people of Colombia. I’d also like to thank all our donors for their immense generosity and to assure them that we will not let them down in this new stage. This has been the result of a great team effort and I assure you that it will continue in the same way so we can reach more of the people in Colombia and help the rest of Opportunity’s operations in Latin America when needed. I believe Opportunity International will become very important in Colombia, attending to the most impoverished of the country. Thanks again for all your great help.

Opportunity International’s CEO Jon Yasuda remarked with thanks and praise: “Praise God for the opportunity to serve thousands of Colombian families with loans and savings products for many years to come. Congratulations to Opportunity Colombia’s CEO Enrique Ordonez and his team for securing the operational license and congratulations to the hundreds of Opportunity staff and donors and that helped this dream of ours become a reality.”

Congratulate Enrique and the entire Opportunity Colombia team in the comments below. If you’d like to show your support, you may fund the loan of a Colombian client on opportunity.org/clients »

Male Trust Group Project

Families at the recreation day for the Male Trust Group in Pivijay, Magdalena in Colombia

Opportunity Colombia is laying the final stages of groundwork to implement the Male Trust Group pilot project, which consists of a customized training curriculum and ministry to male clients built upon the successes of the traditionally more women-centered Trust Groups. Its goal is to positively impact clients’ families and communities by developing good leadership among the men, and by uncovering and positively responding to the unique needs, challenges and talents of our male clients.

For many years, Opportunity International has spoken about the need to provide financial services for women since they are often the most impoverished. The reason so many women are in poverty is because the men have abandoned them, so they must carry the economic and emotional burden alone. One of our donors asked us, if the problem was the men, why not find a way to impact the men themselves encouraging them to change their behavior? The Male Trust Group program aims to raise awareness among men of their God-given responsibilities and encourage them to be emotional and economic leaders in their homes. The pilot, which we will finish in the next couple of months, developed six training modules to develop “men of value.”

The themes of the training modules are: A Man of Value, a Husband of Value, a Father of Value, a Businessman of Value, a Man of Value in the Community, and What God Values in a Man. After completing two modules, participants are invited to participate in an activity to live out the teachings. After the module on being a husband of value, we ask the men to invite their wives to a movie night to watch Fireproof, a film about a husband’s re-commitment to his troubled marriage and to his faith. We set up tablecloths, candles, flowers and a meal so the men can honor their wives. We model the desired behavior.

A family spends time together at the recreation day for the Male Trust Group Project

After the module on being a father of value, we invite the entire family to a day of activities, games, and bonding, facilitated by the Opportunity staff. The goal is to create a space where the family can practice expressing their feelings, affection, and acknowledging each other’s values together. It also allows the fathers to apply the knowledge they acquired in the program training sessions; to gain a better understanding of the first three training modules and the dinner/movie date night activity with their spouses.

Recreation day starts with the families writing their last name vertically on a piece of paper or tagboard, and together they come up with values that describe their family that start with the letters in their last name. The father then presents his family and its values to the group, and has the sheet taped or pinned on him, helping to identify him as the leader of the family. In the pilot, we reached out to about 100 men for the training series and have started replicating elements in other cities.

The Challenges for Fathers in Colombia

I think one of the biggest challenges that Colombian fathers face is breaking a history of emotional and physical poverty. Colombia is a machista society where men have felt they have the right to live lifestyles that cater to them first. They’ve seen this played out in their fathers and grandfathers and this has become the norm, engrained in their minds. As in any country, there are incredible men who embrace their roles as fathers in a sacrificial and loving way, but a dominant culture of “me first” is more common, in my opinion. Men need to willingly stay with their families and guide their sons and daughters through the physical, economic, emotional and spiritual dangers that surround them.

My Personal Journey to Be a Godly Husband and Father

There are so many challenges to being a husband and father, and so many that I have failed at miserably. I think the biggest challenge is not giving up on striving to be the man that God intended me to be. I struggle daily to find that balance in doing justly, loving mercily and walking humbly with my God. Many times, it is easier to do this with coworkers or impoverished people we serve than with our own families.

If I could give one Father’s Day message to fathers around the world it would be don’t give up on striving to be better, on trying to love deeper and on seeking that balance between justice and mercy within your family. God gave us all gifts and talents and a lifetime of experiences that we can use to encourage and care for our families. Many times we become paralyzed focusing more on our fears, defects and weaknesses and we don’t allow God’s grace and power to shine through. As it says in the book of Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Happy Father’s Day from Opportunity International.

Contribute to a father’s loan to help him provide for his family. Meet some of Opportunity’s male clients and help them reach their goals. Visit opportunity.org/fundaloan.

Day 1

I’ve arrived safely in Cartagena. We have a full itinerary for the next four days. We’ll meet directly with at least six individual clients, three Trust Groups, and two branches. Our guide this week is Jim Frantz, who is from the U.S. but has lived in Colombia for 15 years. He serves as Opportunity Colombia’s Chief Transformation Officer, overseeing training for all clients–a fantastic leader and loved by all who meet him. He brings a strong international business background to his work. My goal on this trip is to see for myself how Opportunity works and how effective we are in assisting impoverished Colombians in their quest for financial success and security for their families. I also hope to see, hear, and understand all that God has for me.

Old town in Cartagena

Day 2

Today was a fantastic day getting to know the city of Cartagena, the local history, the cuisine (delicious!), and our program here. It’s a large port town, a leading vacation destination for the country, but there is also a sizable economic disparity between rich and impoverished people in the city. Jim told us that Opportunity Colombia is on its way to offering savings accounts to clients soon. He reminded us how essential this service is to them and how empowered clients feel when we offer them a business opportunity as opposed to a handout.

Day 3

Today we started early and went to the Opportunity branch in Cartagena. We were met by the assistant branch manager, two supervisors and 10 loan officers. Most of the loan officers were once successful clients who are now well-equipped to teach others how to manage their businesses. We enjoyed a morning devotion that featured scripture, prayer and song.

Ana with a purse I bought for my friend at home

Next we met individual loan clients in the hills outside of Cartagena. One client, Ana, uses her loans to buy materials to make purses. She’s a single mother and lives with her daughter. I bought one of her purses for a friend back home who was adopted from Colombia. Ana also buys bags and hats from other towns to sell in her area.

We also visited with a roof-and-floor loan client named Taolinda, a woman with a small shop where she hand-paints shirts. Taolinda was beaming as she shared about her new floors and roof, saying how grateful she was for the opportunity to improve her home. ”I have had more sources of capital,” she said. “I was able to build this house with the profits of my business.”

Most of Opportunity Colombia’s roof-and-floor loan clients are single mothers who often also need a bathroom in their homes, and so the program recently has been expanded to meet that need. Currently, the young woman that oversees this program has 70 clients. She has a construction background and plans to expand the program to another branch very soon.

Felipe in his restaurant with his wife and daughter.

Day 4

After dinner tonight, I was treated to two episodes of Cartagena Jones, a creative and inspirational video series designed and directed by Jim Frantz, developed as a way to effectively offer financial training in savings, budgeting, accounting and more to our Colombian clients. It’s very well done with good graphics, and it’s no surprise that the person that did the videos does TV commercials here.

Day 5

God took us on an incredible journey today with men in Cartagena who spoke of God’s grace, mercy, and provision like I have never heard.

One was Felipe, who struggled with addiction as a young man, and was indebted to seven loan sharks, which resulted in death threats. But today he has changed his life. He is the father of three girls, employs 11 people at the restaurant he owns that he named after his youngest daughter, and has a goal to make a donation himself to Opportunity one day so that he can help others.

Wilfrido speaks about his dreams for prosperity for his people.

The last man we met was Wilfrido, who inspired us all very much. Wilfrido is from one of the indigenous tribes, the Zenú, that makes straw products sold around the country, including the traditional sombrero vueltiao hats that you see everywhere in Colombia. He and the 5,000+ other tribe members, who lack education and live in extreme poverty, also make earrings, bracelets, purses and other products sold by the thousands every day here. Wilfrido welcomed us and told us his dreams for his tribe and his Trust Group, called “Friends of Progress.” He said, “We’ve always wanted to show the world as an indigenous group what we can produce, and we want to have economic growth, although we feel invisible to the world. We’re very proud because our work has become the symbol of the country, but still we have not been able to benefit. Our dream in Cartagena is to have a store where we can sell our goods directly at a fair price and become known internationally. I hope with God’s help we can realize this dream.”

After Wilfrido lost his home in the recent floods, a woman in town offered her backyard where he could rebuild his home. Though his entire community was shattered, he has persevered and rebuilt his life. He works every day with the hope of achieving his dreams for his people to be recognized and compensated for their work so they can make a better life for their families.

The "Friends of Progress" Trust Group

Both of these men are Opportunity loan clients and expressed how grateful they are to their loan officers for the training and encouragement they received. Each is clearly a great gift to their families, employees and communities.