Microfinance a Working Solution to Global Poverty » World Vision http://www.opportunity.org Opportunity International Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:38:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Our Prayers Are With the People of Japan http://www.opportunity.org/blog/our-prayers-are-with-the-people-of-japan/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/our-prayers-are-with-the-people-of-japan/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:06:29 +0000 Opportunity International http://www.opportunity.org/?p=12449 Read more...]]> In the days since the 8.9-magnitude earthquake (which was upgraded to 9.0) struck Japan on Friday, March 11, followed by the devastating tsunami, we at Opportunity, like the entire world, have been watching the scenes of destruction and listening to reports in the media, incredulous and deeply saddened by the news.

It seems astonishing that such extreme destruction could have taken place in such a short time, and with possible radiation threats from the reactors in Fukushima, the embattled people of Japan continue to face instability and uncertainty. Our prayers are with them as the official death toll reached 4,000 today, thousands more are displaced from their homes, and an astonishing number are still trying to locate lost loved ones amidst the turmoil.

We wish all the Japanese people safety, security and peace. We encourage you to keep them in your prayers.

If you’re looking for a way to help, there are a number of emergency relief organizations accepting donations, including:

One of multiple news reports on the earthquake, tsunami and their effects on Japan (published 3/11/11):

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/our-prayers-are-with-the-people-of-japan/feed/ 0 A Progress Report on the UN Millennium Development Goals http://www.opportunity.org/blog/progress-report-un-millennium-development-goals/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/progress-report-un-millennium-development-goals/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:06:36 +0000 Opportunity International http://blog.opportunity.org/?p=2214 Read more...]]> In September of 2000, the United Nations addressed the issue of global poverty by adopting the Millennium Declaration. The declaration pledged the members to accomplish measurable goals to eradicate global poverty by the year 2015. The Millennium Development Goals focus on eight areas of concern, including poverty and hunger, universal education, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

With the deadline now only five years away, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called upon world leaders to attend a summit this September to assess and accelerate the progress towards reaching these goals. From un.org: “Coming amid mixed progress and new crises that threaten the global effort to halve extreme poverty, [Mr. Ban says,] ‘The summit will be a crucially important opportunity to redouble our efforts to meet the goals,’ [...] by the 2015 deadline.”

A couple weeks ago, four commentators participated in a discussion for a radio broadcast from the 2010 InterAction Forum in Washington, DC, asking “How far has the world come, and how far do we have to go?” And they shared their assessments of the progress made so far toward the Millennium Goals.

Featured guests:

  • Dr. Gloria Ekpo, HIV & AIDS Specialist at World Vision
  • Mark Green, director of the Malaria No More Policy Center, former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania
  • Joanna Rubinstein, director of the Center for Global Health & Economic Development at the Earth Institute, Columbia University
  • Sering Falu Njie, deputy director for policy, UN Millennium Campaign

The discussion was broadcast on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on American University Radio in association with InterAction. Listen to the broadcast here.

Opportunity International offers microfinance solutions to empower people in the developing world to work their way out of poverty. Learn about the many ways to get involved in the microfinance movement by visiting opportunity.org.

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/progress-report-un-millennium-development-goals/feed/ 0 Mourning with World Vision http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:56:31 +0000 Opportunity International http://blog.opportunity.org/?p=943 Read more...]]> Opportunity International mourns with World Vision for the loss of six staff members who were killed by gunmen in an attack on their office in Pakistan yesterday. The office focused on providing continued relief to the Mansehra District, where a devastating earthquake killed 80,000 in 2005. These World Vision staff members were local citizens who were dedicated to improving the lives of those in their community affected by poverty and disasters. Please remember in your prayers the families of these Pakistanis. We also pray for the full and speedy recovery of eight other workers who have been hospitalized, and for World Vision staff everywhere for their loss.

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/mourning-with-world-vision/feed/ 0 The Tragedy in Haiti: How You Can Help http://www.opportunity.org/blog/the-tragedy-in-haiti-how-you-can-help/ http://www.opportunity.org/blog/the-tragedy-in-haiti-how-you-can-help/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:38:03 +0000 Rob Meloche http://blog.opportunity.org/?p=755 Read more...]]> At Opportunity International we are heartbroken over the horrible suffering and staggering devastation in Haiti. Please join with us in praying for the people of Haiti and supporting the ongoing relief effort.

In this immediate aftermath, we would encourage you to consider supporting one of our partners with operations in Haiti or one of the many other great organizations who are providing services in the country.

A terrible tragedy like this demonstrates the vulnerability of those living in poverty, and reminds us of how much work remains to help strengthen poor communities around the world.

As President Obama recently said, “Few in the world have endured the hardships that you [Haiti] have known. Long before this tragedy, daily life itself was often a bitter struggle. And after suffering so much for so long, to face this new horror must cause some to look up and ask, have we somehow been forsaken?”

We join with the President and the international chorus of voices declaring, “You will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.”

Partners with operations in Haiti:

Compassion International
http://www.compassion.com/

World Relief
http://worldrelief.org/

Fonkoze
http://www.fonkoze.org/

 Other organizations supporting the relief and rebuilding effort:

World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org/

 Habitat for Humanity
http://www.habitat.org/

]]> http://www.opportunity.org/blog/the-tragedy-in-haiti-how-you-can-help/feed/ 0