50 Weeks of Opportunity
Each week for the next 50 weeks, we will share a piece of Opportunity’s history—major or minor, sobering or inspiring, we have gotten where we are today by facing some of the world’s greatest challenges, with you by our side. Please join us in celebrating the many impactful moments that have built the foundation on which we will embark on our most audacious vision yet: ending extreme poverty.
Opportunity International United States statement in support of racial equity, justice, and flourishing
As we join the world in anguish and lament over racism, oppression, violence, and injustice, we recall the very tenets on which Opportunity was founded. Opportunity International exists to extend opportunity to those living in poverty in the developing world – Africa, Asia, and Latin America — giving them the means to overcome oppressive economic and social systems, improve their lives, and join the economic mainstream. We do this, motivated by our call to serve those who are left behind…
Read MoreJune Book Club: The Hundred Wells of Salaga
The Opportunity Book Club began in 2018 with a curated reading list that represented a wide range of geographies, authors, and perspectives. Our community has traveled around the world from the comfort of our couches, investing in the lives and stories of people whose experiences often look so much different than our own. Now—as our national conversation centers around learning and challenging long-entrenched ways of thinking, dismantling systemic racism, and opening our ears to voices that…
Read MoreUpdate from Our Partners in Haiti
In an effort to reach some of the most marginalized people in the world, Opportunity partners with Fonkoze, a microfinance organization in Haiti. If you have never been, Haiti is a country filled with resilient people who face some of the most challenges circumstances we have ever seen. The work Opportunity supports there serves women who live on the margins, earn less than $1 per day, suffer from hunger, and have no assets or access healthcare. People like this are often the ones who suffer the…
Read MoreMozambique: One Year After Cyclone Idai
Mozambique: One Year After Cyclone Idai by Mary Pat McVay Rallying Together | It Truly Does Take A Village | We Don't Quit A few weeks ago, I spoke to my colleagues Doreen and Melba to get an update on the COVID-19 situation in Mozambique and see how they were coping and adapting. We chatted about the teenagers the three of us have at home, what kind of virtual learning they are engaged in, and how much time they should be allowed on social media with friends. Then Doreen said, “It’s…
Read MoreFinding a Lifeline for the Poor and the Financial Institutions that Serve Them
The COVID-19 crisis has already hit the poor hard, and will hit them harder. Microfinance Institutions are close to affected groups and provide an essential lifeline - but are themselves under threat as deposits fall and the poor struggle with repayments. Supporting the financial institutions and social models which define the sector needs to be a priority for Governments and donors. We offer a three point plan: digitisation; financial support; and, above all, a platform so that the voices can be…
Read More6 Books to Read While Sheltering in Place
With extended time at home, we have found ourselves turning to great books more than ever. Books open up the challenges and victories of other people’s worlds when we need an escape from our own; literary adventures provide an opportunity to travel and explore—no airplane required; and, a great page-turner is all we need on hand to learn something new in this season of quarantine. If you’re looking for a book to pick up while you’re sheltering in place, why not choose one of our favorite…
Read MoreThe Importance of an Empty Grain Silo During COVID-19
The Importance of an Empty Grain Silo During COVID-19
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Getting to Know: Kerri McAfoos
Kerri McAfoos has been a committed member of the Governor community for several years. We are lucky to have Kerri join as Governor Co-Chair alongside Cassie Burns. Let’s get to know Kerri!
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