Blog Archives

Spotlight on Tanzanian Mother and Baby on Child Health Day

In the past, if a family member needed healthcare, Theresia John Kombe of Pangara, Tanzania, had to sell one of her chickens to pay for it. But as a coffee grower with the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU), Theresia was able to join a MicroEnsure health plan that is connected to a network of clinics. Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Client Stories, Events, Microinsurance, Where We Work
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Christy Turlington Burns Visits Opportunity Tanzania with Every Mother Counts

At the end of August, Christy Turlington Burns, Opportunity International partner, model and philanthropist, took a day out from her family vacation in Tanzania to see our Arusha branch. Christy is the founder of Every Mother Counts, an advocacy and mobilization campaign that increases education and support for maternal mortality worldwide, and the director/producer of Read more…

Posted in Client Stories, Loan officer, Loans, Local Staffing, Microinsurance, Our Work, Strategic Partners, Training
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Meet Our Staff: Starting a New Chapter with the Governors

In October 2011, I took a leap of faith leaving some amazing friends and the fast pace of New York City to come back to my sweet hometown of Chicago. I achieved wonderful things in my career, coordinating conferences for 150-2,500 people, special events, outings, and managing a state of the art conference center for Read more…

Posted in Board of Governors, Events, Meet Our Staff, Microfinance Conference, Strategic Partners, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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A Drumbeat and a Trust Group: My Trip to Tanzania

The following post is by actress Malin Akerman, who recently joined , from her March  with her husband Roberto to see Opportunity’s work in Tanzania. In my last post I told you about how and why Roberto and I decided to take a trip with  to Tanzania. Here’s a really brief recap of our trip, with highlights, Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Loans, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Trust Groups
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Meet Our Staff: A Closing Interview with AJ Renold as He Prepares to Leave Tanzania

AJ Renold, mountain trekker, pizza maker, kite surfer, manager of business development and donor relations for Opportunity International Tanzania, hails from Chicago, Ill. He joined Opportunity-US as an intern in their suburban Oak Brook headquarters in 2009. That summer, he helped plan and traveled on the first-ever Young Ambassadors Insight Trip to Tanzania. AJ quickly Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Opportunity Tanzania is Listening to Microfinance Clients and Growing

Opportunity Tanzania achieved strong growth during 2011. As of September 30th, Opportunity Tanzania was serving 5,705 microentrepreneurs with loans, reflecting an 84% growth in just nine months, having begun 2011 with 3,093 clients. Entrepreneurs like produce seller Joyce Williamson (pictured) are using loans to improve their businesses and generate more income for their families. More Read more…

Posted in Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Where We Work
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Tunes for Tanzania–who knew a Tuesday could be this good?

While everyone seemed moved by the goal of building a bank in Tanzania, as I gauged from the robust rounds of applause, Tuesday’s Tunes for Tanzania event was also just a good time for all. We packed into Schubas in Chicago to listen to the music of three different bands; we strategized to win tantalizing Read more…

Posted in Events, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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A Look Back at YAO’s Summer Fun 2011

Summer 2011 was a busy season for YAO chapters across the country. From a soccer tournament in San Francisco, to the Chicago Half Marathon, to networking at Chapter Happy Hours, Young Ambassadors organized fun summer events that got them inspired and energized to put their passion to end poverty into action. Here are highlights from Read more…

Posted in Events, Microfinance Conference, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Top 5 Creative Fundraisers by International Nonprofits

Last February, 29 super-dedicated young professionals and entrepreneurs went to Orlando, Florida to jump out of a plane, skydiving to raise funds and awareness for Opportunity Tanzania‘s microfinance initiatives. Inspired by our supporters’ fundraiser at 18,000 feet, we entered Jump for Opportunity as the “Most Creative Fundraiser by a Charity” in this year’s Classy Awards. Read more…

Posted in Events, Resources, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Meet Thomas, a Loan Officer in Moshi, Tanzania

Meet Thomas. Thomas is a loan officer in the Moshi branch of Opportunity Tanzania. When I asked him about himself he said he likes hip hop music, traveling, and helping out clients. His Trust Group adores him, as they should, he is a wonderful man who helps out whenever possible. We talked about some of Read more…

Posted in Insight Trips, Local Staffing, Trust Groups, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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