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.
Global Food Security Act Re-authorization
We know that poverty alleviation is inextricably tied to global food security, which is why Opportunity provides financial services to farmers, processors, input suppliers and other enterprises in the agricultural market system. As one of the largest donors of global food security and agriculture, the U.S. government has a key role to play in ending hunger and malnutrition around the world. In 2016 the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) codified into law the efforts and resources of the United…
Read MoreRead With Us! December Book Club Selection
Winner of the National Book Award, the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and more, Behind the Beautiful Forevers tells the story of Annawadi, a slum community near the Mumbai airport. Author, MacArthur Genius, and Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo spent years getting to know and reporting on this small community, resulting in incredibly compelling, honest, and unparalleled storytelling. This month, we are reading: Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo As…
Read MoreAnnouncing our November Book Club Selection: Indonesia Etc.
The country of Indonesia is comprised of 17,000 islands—spanning thousands of miles in the Pacific Ocean. Journalist and HIV Epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani trekked 26,000 of those miles to research and write a comprehensive narrative about this incredible country. And we can't wait to learn from her experiences. This month, we are reading: Indonesia Etc. by Elizabeth Pisani As Amazon describes, "Declaring independence in 1945, Indonesia said it would 'work out the details of the transfer…
Read MoreA New Way to Move Families From Poverty to Prosperity
Before anything else, Marites is a mother. The first thing she asks herself every morning is how she will get food on the table for her children that day. She is learning better ways to answer that question through the LIFE (Livelihoods for the Extreme Poor) poverty graduation pilot program that she joined through Opportunity’s local partner in the Philippines. The graduation model has proven to be a scalable, cost-effective way to support families living in the depths of poverty by providing…
Read MoreMeet Erin Dowland Kabwe
In August, we welcomed our new Senior Director of Volunteer Engagement, Erin Dowland Kabwe. As Mother Teresa says, “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” Erin emanates this beloved quote so well. She has devoted her entire career to service with almost 20 years of diverse, global experience in fundraising and community development. Her journey to Opportunity began many years ago and is lit by amazing achievements along the way. A highlight…
Read MoreThe Power of Education in Nicaragua
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In Nicaragua, we saw first-hand evidence of that truth. With its magnificent geographic setting and precarious political situation, Nicaragua is a country of great contrasts. It is both a desired tourist destination and one of the most underprivileged countries. While we experienced that sharp contrast vividly in our short visit, it was the people of Nicaragua who won our hearts. What made…
Read MoreAnnouncing Our September Book Club Selection
Here at Opportunity International, we have so many wonderful friends. These are people who provide us with invaluable strategic direction, encourage us as we tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, and learn alongside us. Put simply, our friends—people just like you—make us who we are. They make our work possible. So when one of our friends writes an incredible book, we can’t help but celebrate it! This month, we are reading: Bigger Than Me by Ward Brehm Ward’s insights…
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Powering Educational Change-Makers Like Grace
A native of Bogotá, Grace remembers wanting to become a teacher when she was as young as the students she teaches today. As a child in school, she was accustomed to knocks on the door from classmates who didn’t understand a math problem or needed help with their homework. Grace became a peer tutor, and when high school graduation came around, she was certain she wanted to pursue a degree in education. It was during her time at university that her future as a school proprietor started to take real…
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Bandeja Paisa: Bring Colombia to Your Kitchen
This hearty meal is a popular dish in Colombian cuisine. Traditionally served in a large tray to accommodate the amount of food, Bandeja Paisa is a perfect meal to share with friends and neighbors! WHAT YOU’ll NEED: Makes 4 servings 2 cups white rice 1 teaspoon baking powder ¾ cup oil ½ teaspoon baking soda 4 cups yellow onion, chopped (about 2 onions) 5 cups water 1 large green bell pepper, chopped 1 cup corn flour 1 tablespoon Achiote paste 4…
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Nicaragua Emergency Update
In the midst of ongoing national turmoil in Nicaragua, our staff and clients have demonstrated remarkable resilience. The crisis, which began in mid-April, has caused dramatic economic, political, and social upheaval for people throughout the country. The roadblocks that prevented people from moving throughout the country have been removed, but it is still unsafe to be out after 7:00 p.m. Economic activity has slowed dramatically, and tourism—a major driver for many industries—has all but dried…
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