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Top 5 Highlights from Opportunity’s 2011 in Review
As we take the first steps into 2012, it’s good to see where Opportunity International ventured on the road of 2011. We ran all over the globe and hiked into new territory both literally and figuratively. We celebrated milestones, and went to new heights, for the sake of our clients and the sustainable work of Read more…
Tagged 40th anniversary, 40th anniversary year-end campaign 2011, Africa, Banking on Women, Clients, Devex, Empact, Empact 100, Ending Poverty, Events, Financial services, Future of Entrepreneurship Summit, India, Insight Trip, International Women's Day, Jump for Opportunity, Microensure, Microinsurance, Opportunity International, Poverty, Richard Leftley, Side by Side, sustainable finance award, USA Today, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Breakout Session: Stand Up for Opportunity
I sat down to listen to a panel of Opportunity International volunteers and contributors to hear their thoughts and best practices on how they share and involve their own communities in Opportunity’s mission. Each panel member shared their own journey with Opportunity and how they came to be involved. Though unified in passion, each contributor’s Read more…
Tagged Alison Altdoerffer, Amelia Gingold, Betsy Perdue, Board of Governors, Dick Leathers, Microfinance, Monica Perez, OIC2011, Online fundraising, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Sonya Perez-Lauterbach, Sunshine Sachs & Associates, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON, YAO, YAO - San Francisco, YAO-Denver, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Breakout Session: Why Women? Why Now?
The impact of focusing on women is thus multi-fold: not only will empowering women [with financial services] uplift the lives of women, but it also produces a wider impact on multiple generations and the communities in which they live. -2011 Study by Women’s World Banking In families where have an income, they have a voice Read more…
Tagged Africa, Deborah Farrington, Diane Griffin, DR Congo, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Microfinance, Nadine Pembele, OIC2011, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Ruth-Anne Renaud, StarVest Partners, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, Women's World Banking, WON
Conference LiveBlog: Reeta Roy Accepts the 2011 International Women’s Leadership Award on Behalf of The MasterCard Foundation
Today, Betsy Perdue, co-chair of the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), presented Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation, with WON’s 2011 International Women’s Leadership Award. Roy accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation, honored for its role in supporting and inspiring global women entrepreneurs. By increasing access to microfinance and youth education in developing Read more…
Tagged Africa, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Global Poverty, International Women’s Leadership Award, MFI, Microfinance, OIC2011, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Poverty, Reeta Roy, Technology, The MasterCard Foundation, United Nations, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Congratulations to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, One of the Winners of 2011 Nobel Peace Prize
Congratulations to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize along with Liberian peace activist Leymah Gboweeh and Yemeni pro-democracy human rights campaigner Tawakkol Karman. They were the first women to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since Professor Wangari Maathai, who passed away a couple weeks ago, won in Read more…
Tagged Africa, democracy, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Human Rights, International Women’s Leadership Award, Laureate Wangari Maathai, Microfinance, Nobel Peace Prize, Opportunity International, peace, Poverty, The New York Times, Voice of America, Women, Women Leaders, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Faith in Action: Opportunity Supporter Walks 500 Miles of Christian Pilgrimage El Camino de Santiago
With just 50 miles to go, Opportunity International supporter Ann Loar Brooks is about to complete a 500-mile walk for Ugandan women. Ann began her journey on August 27th, hiking the last 500 miles of the Christian pilgrimage El Camino de Santiago, which starts from southern France and winds through the Pyrenees across northern Spain. Her mission: to raise awareness Read more…
Tagged Africa, Board of Governors, Clients, Ending Poverty, Faith in Action, Financial Access, Financial services, Fundraising, Global Poverty, Microfinance, Online fundraising, Opportunity International, Opportunity Uganda, Supporters, Trust Groups, Uganda, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
What We’re Reading: Opportunity Rwanda’s Daniel Ryumugabe & Chicago Supporters Gather to Discuss Left to Tell
On Monday, I joined 15 women for a meeting of the Chicago Women’s Book Discussion Group in the home of Kim Stephens, a member of Opportunity International‘s Board of Governors. The group, led by my Opportunity colleague, regional director Linda Vander Weele, has been meeting regularly for the past two years to discuss books that touch upon Read more…
Tagged Africa, Board of Governors, Book discussion, Chicago, Community, Economic development, Education, Ending Poverty, Events, Genocide, God, Governors, International Visitor, Kigali, Left to Tell, MFI, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Opportunity Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Poverty, Ruth-Anne Renaud, Rwanda, Transformation, Transformational Training, UOB, Urwego Opportunity Bank, Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda, violence, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
Joy in Giving: Minneapolis Women Philanthropists Share Inspirational Ways They Put their Passion Into Action
The following guest blog post was written by Cassidy Burns, an Opportunity International supporter who works for Riverbridge Partners. On Tuesday, more than 150 women gathered at the Joy in Giving event in Minneapolis, Minn. to learn and share why giving changes the world and changes you. The event was sponsored by Opportunity International, the Minneapolis Read more…
Tagged Betty Jane Hess, Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Community, Ending Poverty, Events, foundations, Global Poverty, Minneapolis, Nonprofit, Opportunity International, Philanthropy, Polly McCrea, Poverty, Print 4 Change, Women, Women Leaders, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
What We’re Reading: Women’s World Banking Study, Reaching Women in Rural Uganda with Microfinance
On Wednesdays, we highlight an article, book or a blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the microfinance work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–-tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The Read more…
Tagged Africa, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, Banking on Women, BRAC, Clients, Ending Poverty, Finance Trust, Financial services, FINCA, Global Poverty, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Opportunity International, Opportunity Uganda, Poverty, Pride, Rural Outreach, Smallholder farmer, Uganda, what we're reading, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, Women's World Banking, WON
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…
Tagged 10000 women initiative, Africa, Banking on Women, Clients, Education, Emerging Leaders, emerging leaders program, Ending Poverty, Events, Financial services, fundraisers, Goldman Sachs, Insight Trip, Kenya, Loan Officer, MFI, Microfinance, Mothers, Oak Park, Online fundraising, Opportunity International, Poverty, Uganda, Women, Women's Opportunity Network, Women's Philanthropy, WON
