News Blog
50 for 50: YAO Memories
In 2008, a group of young philanthropists came together in support of Opportunity International. They were so impressed by the model and inspired by the clients that they decided to build a community that would help them introduce even more friends to the organization—Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) was born. Through local chapters in cities around the United States, Young Ambassadors were able to build relationships, educate their peers about microfinance and development, encourage friends…
Read More50 for 50: Investing in Agriculture: Celebrating Jane and Peter Nelson
In the early 2000s, Opportunity International began working on a new program to meet the unique needs of rural families. The goal was to provide targeted, finance-based solutions to help farmers transform their small farms into more productive and effective enterprises. Opportunity officially launched its Agriculture Finance (AgFinance) program in 2008 to help end the cycle of low-productivity farming in rural African countries. By giving farmers access to seeds and fertilizer, connections to buyers,…
Read MoreRevisiting one of the Book Club’s favorite authors
“This is a book that contains very few numbers,” said Hans Rosling of his memoir. “Instead, it is about meeting people who have opened my eyes.” Rosling, a world-renowned physician and data analyst, authored one of our most popular book club picks ever (June 2018), Factfulness. So when his family released his posthumous memoir earlier this spring, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. This month, join us as we read How I Learned to Understand the World by Hans Rosling, with Fanny Härgestam.…
Read More50 for 50: Origin Stories - Eastern Europe
Our Family’s History In the mid-1980s, our family’s global interest was growing. We had recently adopted two Japanese daughters when former board chair Dave Hardin introduced us to microfinance and Opportunity International in 1987. That year, we took an Opportunity Insight Trip to Guatemala and Costa Rica—and I was invited to join the U.S. board. I suggested a “2-for-1 deal” that would also include my husband, Ken. In 1990, we organized and led our own Insight Trip to Guatemala and Costa…
Read More50 for 50: Honoring World Hunger Day
In May 1971, thousands of people across the United States gathered in their communities for walks organized and coordinated by the American Freedom From Hunger Foundation—an organization that would go on to aid the United Nations Freedom From Hunger Campaign (NYT). Some people chose to run long distances, and others walked for hours behind them. The energy resembled the exhausted joy we now associate with modern charity walks. When the event took place in the early 1970s, nearly 35% of those living…
Read MoreExtraordinary Situations Demand Extraordinary Responses: Updates on the COVID Crisis in India
As the world is slowly opening up here at home, my friends and colleagues in India are facing the world's worst coronavirus outbreak yet. Countless families, including mine, have lost loved ones over the past few weeks. It's a devastating blow that comes on the heels of an impossible year. This current crisis comes in a season when we are all longing for hope. We are weary, and our faith has been stretched beyond what we ever could have imagined. For months, we have been talking about the mutually…
Read More50 for 50: Origin Stories - Latin America
In 1971, Opportunity International made its first loan to Colombian entrepreneur Carlos Moreno. Since that fateful first relationship, we have continued to provide access to loans, high-quality education, and financial training to thousands of entrepreneurs like Carlos. For 50 years, we have worked in Latin America, meeting families’ needs and building a community of support for our clients. We recently connected with Leddy “Mitzi” Machado Ariza, a long-time Opportunity Colombia staff member…
Read More50 for 50: Highlighting Refugee Families on the International Day of Families
When Johanna left Venezuela in 2018 headed for Barranquilla, Colombia, she had one goal in mind: a better future for her family. It was the first time she traveled abroad, and she arrived in Colombia as a refugee, facing a different culture, new people, and an entirely unfamiliar reality. Johanna thought she would be able to get a job in a shop, but she ran into persistent barriers and discrimination. Her status as an outsider made it hard for her to support herself and her children. Throughout our…
Read More50 for 50: Celebrating 7 Educators During Teacher Appreciation Week
Opportunity International's Education Finance program began by recognizing education as an integral part of reducing global poverty and inequality. This year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only emphasized education's critical place in our world and reminded us of teachers' extraordinary creativity, tenacity, and strength. They navigated school closures, attempted to teach virtual classes without reliable connectivity, and ensured that children continued learning amidst so many challenges. In…
Read MoreThe Book Club is going back to where it all began
Many of you joined us for our Virtual Insight Trip to Colombia last week. Thank you for being part of this special tour—and make sure to check out the recording if you missed it. This month, our Book Club is also traveling to Colombia through fiction, diving into a popular new novel about the very first country in which Opportunity International gave loans to clients 50 years ago! Experience the Andes mountains, the city of Bogotá, and the daily lives of one family navigating hopes, dreams,…
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