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.
The 8 Rules of EduFinance Product Design
The role of Opportunity International’s Education Finance program is to turn microfinance products and services into vehicles of educational attainment. Our job is to take the traditional model of microfinance and use it in a unique, innovative way that gets children into school and keeps them there. The Education Finance program, at first glance, can seem to host a rather random cadre of products and services on offer to our clients. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Every…
Read More9 Countries Measuring Transformation
As we prepare for the holiday season, we are counting down our 12 Days of Christmas - celebrating Opportunity's work around the world this year. Peter Drucker said, “If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.” It is a simple concept. Simple, yet you can spend a lifetime trying to understand the wisdom behind it. In microfinance, academics have for years attempted to define the impact on clients beyond the loan statistics. While the life change we seek to influence in pursuit of…
Read More10 of Our Favorite Blog Posts of 2014
As we prepare for the holiday season, we are counting down our 12 Days of Christmas - celebrating Opportunity's work around the world this year. The Opportunity International blog captures the stories of our work each year. As I look back on 2014, I'm reminded of bright moments - the launch of Social Performance Management, engaging campaigns, inspiring Insight Trips and interviews with incredible supporters, among others. These moments paint the picture of a year full of progress, hard work and…
Read More11 More Months To Be Involved
As we prepare for the holiday season, we are counting down our 12 Days of Christmas - celebrating Opportunity's work around the world this year. If you are anything like me, December is a whirlwind month filled with parties and concerts and family and cookies and laughter and shopping and noise. It’s a time to celebrate and a time to remember. And for me, it’s a time to give back. Each December, I evaluate the causes I support and make my annual contributions. And if data is any indicator,…
Read More12 Million Jobs
As we prepare for the holiday season, we are counting down our 12 Days of Christmas - celebrating Opportunity's work around the world this year. During our first 43 years, Opportunity International’s work has created and sustained 12.5 million jobs around the world, and we aim to reach 20 million by 2018. I was intrigued by the Pope’s interview in which he gave ten suggestions for living a happier life. Many of his suggestions are centered on personal behaviors. One of them however leapt…
Read MoreEmpowering Generational Change through Education
“Investing in education is one of the most decisive ways to help people work their way out of poverty,” said Vicki Escarra, Global CEO of Opportunity International. “Research has shown that education raises a student’s future economic status and can even extend life expectancy. We look forward to continuing our important partnership with Credit Suisse to expand educational opportunities for thousands of youth through access to financial services.” Today we are pleased to announce a partnership…
Read MoreCelebrating Cyber Monday Around the World
I’m all about Cyber Monday. It’s when I go hunting for the holiday deals. To tell the truth, I’ve never been able to do the whole Black Friday thing. I blame Thanksgiving for this. Let me explain. In my family, Thanksgiving is about one thing: the food. I cannot emphasize this enough. I’m talking about going back for seconds, thirds and sometime around midnight, a snack – which, if I’m being honest, is a whole meal unto itself. Only after I’m truly stuffed is it time for bed. As a…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving from our CEO
Dear Friends, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on things that are truly important to us like family and friends. I'm also extremely thankful to be part of Opportunity International and grateful for your support. Together, our hard work is transforming lives and making a difference. And there's no better feeling in the world than that. Again, thank you dear friends. Best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful (and delicious) Thanksgiving. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let…
Read MoreThankful for Dreams that Come True
Remy Mendez, a dedicated mother living in poverty in the Philippines, struggled to provide for her daughter Amina. Amina’s biggest dream was to go to school, but Remy and her husband couldn’t afford to educate Amina and her sister. But with the help of an Opportunity International loan, Remy built a business and transformed her family’s future. And with the additional support of a special scholarship, Amina was able to complete her university education in the United States. Today, Amina is…
Read MoreScale, Impact & Sustainability: An Innovative Model for Educating Vulnerable Children
Opportunity International recognizes the transformative power of education. Learn about our innovative model for educating vulnerable children world-wide.
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