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50 for 50: Revisiting the Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, 193 countries committed to 17 ambitious goals—goals designed to promote and measure progress toward equity and development worldwide. These goals, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were a renewed vision by the United Nations following 2000’s Millennium Development Goals and provide a global benchmark for critical, sustainable progress. Achieving them will require the commitment and creativity of nations and organizations alike, and the 169 targets outlined within the…
Read More50 for 50: Exploring the Graduation Model
This essay is a selection from the special edition of UnPoverty by Mark Lutz. The new edition will release this fall in celebration of Opportunity International’s 50th Anniversary, featuring new chapters from leaders throughout Opportunity’s history. When we first met Elda, she was living in ultra-poverty. She had two children and no income. But a lack of income does not adequately describe the deprivations and dangers that families living in ultra-poverty face. Many are unable to send their…
Read More50 for 50: The Role of Biometrics in Financial Inclusion
On International Women’s Day 2011, Opportunity International launched its “Banking on Women” Campaign, an initiative designed to build awareness of the transformative impact of financial services on women’s empowerment. Among its multiple education and fundraising elements, the campaign described the latest innovations related to increasing financial accessibility, one of which was biometric technology. A few years earlier, in 2003, we had opened the Opportunity International Bank of Malawi…
Read MoreYou’ll be happy to revisit this classic
In the midst of the back-to-school rush, we’re picking up a book that has a prominent place on high school reading lists—and for great reason. This month, join us as we read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The most widely read book in modern African literature, Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, an Igbo warrior who fights to maintain his culture in the face of colonialism. Okonkwo’s fictional story paints a stark picture of the despair and loss that accompanied the fight for…
Read More50 for 50: Catalyst Award - Janelle Lassonde
As Opportunity International was first piloting its Education Finance programs, Janelle Lassonde served on the steering committee for the Banking on Africa campaign—helping us grow our footprint in a new region and establish banking infrastructure that would allow clients to not only borrow, but also save. Leveraging her professional experience as a banker in sub-Saharan Africa, Janelle brought a depth of wisdom and insight to this pivotal campaign. As she learned more about Opportunity’s goals…
Read More50 for 50: Trailblazer Award - Nathan Byrd
In May 2012, Opportunity International hired Nathan Byrd, a talented young leader who had previously served as Director of Operations for the International Rescue Committee in Kabul, Afghanistan, and VP of Strategic Development at Covenant House, to serve as the new head of Opportunity’s Education Finance program. At the time, Education Finance was a small pilot program—and Nathan was tasked with designing both our strategy and the necessary financial tools to help more children access quality…
Read MoreMeet Cynthia Garrett: Entrepreneur, Advocate, and Woman Warrior
When TV host Cynthia Garrett boarded a plane to India to join a group of Opportunity International supporters, she didn’t know what to expect. “One of my greatest memories from that trip was our opening bus ride,” she recalls. “We were a group of women with very different experiences, and we started sharing our stories. We went very deep very quickly, sharing about who we are and how we came to be on that bus that day. And when you go deep like that, you learn quickly whether you’re surrounded…
Read More50 for 50: History of the Governors
Opportunity International’s Board of Governors is a dynamic community of people who care deeply about a world in which all people can achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose. As we celebrate Opportunity’s 50th anniversary, we are looking back at the history of the Governors—and the incredible people who have led and shaped this community over the years. 1987 - Gathering the Governors In 1987, one of Opportunity’s seminal founders, the late Dave Hardin, gathered a group…
Read More50 for 50: Looking Back at Youth Programs
In 2019, 16% of the world’s population was made up of youth (individuals aged 15-24). By stark contrast Africa, nearly 75% of the population is under the age of 35. And in the world’s poorest countries, the United Nations estimates that the population of youth will grow by 62% in the next 30 years.We have a chance to help stop the cycle of generational poverty so that the next generation can thrive.Opportunity International is committed to providing educational, financial, and vocational opportunities…
Read More50 for 50: History of Education Progress
Research shows that giving children access to a quality education reduces poverty and inequality, increases life expectancy, and gives women and girls more decision-making power. Put simply, education is one of the best tools we have to end generational poverty. At Opportunity International, we invest heavily in schools and students through our Education Finance program. The work we do ensures that more children can access quality education, pursue their goals, and break the cycle of poverty for…
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