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.
Read With Us: March Book Club Selection
It’s a new month, which means it's time for one of our favorite things: sharing our next Opportunity Book Club selection with you! But first, let’s recap what we’ve been reading: Following an intense January reading of Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao, we dove into an incredibly eye-opening (and incredibly long!) read: Why Nations Fail by Daren Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. We were so challenged by the concepts raised by Acemoglu and Robinson in this book. It’s easy to think we…
Read MoreTop 5 Reasons to Go to Ghana
“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,To gain all while you give,To roam the roads of lands remote,To travel is to live.”—Hans Christian Andersen I’ve spent the last five years of my life crisscrossing the globe. It’s been challenging and exhausting, eye-opening and heart-shattering—and it’s the best thing you could ever do. Travel is absolutely as powerful and incredible as everyone says, and all I can say is this: take the risk. Get on the plane. Take the adventure. I promise you…
Read MoreWhat do you want to be when you grow up?
What do you want to be when you grow up? We asked Opportunity supporters here and clients abroad about their childhood dreams. See how our answers compare and answer our next poll. Where do you get your water? How frequently do you use water? Fill out my online form. var qy9ymr905782e3;(function(d, t) { var s = d.createElement(t), options = { 'userName':'opportunityintl', 'formHash':'qy9ymr905782e3', 'autoResize':true, 'height':'440', 'async':true, 'host':'wufoo.com', 'header':'show', 'ssl':true}; s.src…
Read MoreThe Opportunity Difference
A few weeks ago, I traveled to Uganda to witness the work of Opportunity International. I became a donor a few years ago and recently joined the Opportunity team as Chief Philanthropy Officer, so I was keen to kick the tires on our model of providing innovative financial solutions to create sustainable livelihoods for hard-working families. I was wearing two hats: one as an insider and one as a supporter. I left a blustering snowstorm in the states to arrive in Kampala, Uganda, where I was welcomed…
Read MoreThe Power of a Global Community of Women
This January, I returned to my home country of India with a group of Opportunity’s donors, all women, from the United States. We traveled to a tribal region in eastern India, meeting women living with big dreams but limited resources. These women—and the generations before them—have known suffering and struggle. They have survived decades of poverty and oppression, exclusion and pain. But despite these impossible circumstances, they were the picture of grit, determination, and strength. They…
Read MoreCreativity in the Classroom
Education Finance EduQuality award recipients Victory Land Academy created Teaching and Learning Materials with low-cost resources and materials to improve comprehension and retention in the classroom.
Read MoreFive Things I Can't Stop Thinking About From the 2019 Gates Letter
Every year, Bill and Melinda Gates release their reflections on the world in their annual letter. Their thoughts continually inspire and challenge me, and this year’s letter is no different. Here are five key things I can’t stop thinking about: “Young Africans will shape the future of not only their own communities but the entire world.”We know that empowering young people is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty—and even more so in Africa, where the population remains uniquely…
Read MoreRead With Us: February Book Club Selection
We are excited to welcome so many new readers to the Opportunity International Book Club fold this month. (Must be all of those New Year’s resolutions to read more—which is one goal we can totally support!) In order to support and encourage our ever-growing community of book enthusiasts, we decided to create a space where we can all share our thoughts and reactions to the things we are reading. Please take a moment to join the Opportunity International Book Club group on Facebook, and invite…
Read MoreTalk to Us! Your 2019 Goals
This year, we want to hear from you! Each month, we'll ask you a question—and we'll pose the same question to one of our clients working her way out of poverty around the world. Because, while our circumstances look different, our lives are actually remarkably similar. We all are working hard, dreaming about the future, and caring for our families. We all like hanging out with friends, and we are all aiming for more joy and laughter. We'll share your responses each month, so be sure to join…
Read MoreTop 3 Blogs From 2018
Last year, we traveled the world from the screen of our phone or computer, read impactful and thought-provoking books, and were inspired by clients and the stories of their perseverance. Our favorite part was getting to do all this with you! To celebrate another year of exploring, learning, and working to end extreme poverty together, let's a look back at your favorite blogs from 2018. MY FIRST TIME IN THE FIELD Opportunity’s own IT master, Shane Ulrich, keeps the Chicago office…
Read More