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Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

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© 2024 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

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12 Days of Opportunity

Day 11: The Gift of Joyful Patience

by Dawn Helwig

As we prepare for Christmas, we are counting down our 12 Days of Opportunity - celebrating the many gifts we have received while working with our clients and staff around the world. The holiday season can be trying for those of us in the U.S. who are used to getting everything NOW. We want next day delivery from Amazon Prime, short lines in stores, fast food and quick transport to our destinations. We are not very patient people. My husband Ted and I were lucky to be able to go on an Insight Trip…

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Day 12: Robinah's Drum

by Karri DeSelm, Program Manager

As we prepare for Christmas, we are counting down our 12 Days of Opportunity - celebrating the many gifts we have received while working with our clients and staff around the world. Every time I look at the little wooden drum on my desk engraved with the word “Uganda,” I think about Opportunity International’s work to support improved education quality for children. Well, not exactly. When I look at the drum, I think about the first time I met Robinah. Before she saw me standing outside the…

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1 Client at a Time

by Vicki Escarra

Merry Christmas to you and your family! I'm honored to wrap up our special 12 Days of Christmas series by highlighting a key reason Opportunity International has been so successful over the years in helping people around the world break the cycle of poverty, transform their lives and strengthen their families and communities. Every client relationship begins with an understanding that each individual has unique needs, dreams and potential. That means each client receives highly personalized services…

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2 Media Stories You Don't Want to Miss

by Opportunity International

This year, Opportunity International Global CEO Vicki Escarra spoke about our innovative, transformational work in a number of prominent news outlets, including Bloomberg and CCTV. As we remember 2014, here are two interviews that you don't want to miss:  Vicki Escarra, Global CEO for Opportunity International, discussed Opportunity's goal to create 20 million jobs around the world with Bloomberg's Trish Regan on \"Street Smart.\"     Vicki Escarra also spoke on CCTV regarding bridging the gap…

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3 Clients You Should Know

by Diane Ferguson

Meet Said Busesire, a plantain farmer in Uganda. Each day Said Busesire follows the same routine. Just after midnight he starts the 15 km journey to Mbarara, the nearest big town, pushing plaintains through the darkness on his bike. In Mbarara, he sells his harvest to hotels where he has earned a reputation for timeliness and honest pricing. Later in the day he makes another round-trip journey to sell a second load of bananas at the market. When he finally returns home, Said works his land, preparing…

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4 Continents of Impact

by Brad Skeba

Sometimes, sitting in Opportunity International’s US office in Oak Brook, Illinois, it’s easy for me to overlook the depth and diversity of our reach. So often my mind is stuck on the immediate things: the morning commute/did I lock my door today/outstanding emails needing a reply/proposals to write/yes, I definitely left my apartment unlocked this morning…you get picture – some days it seems there is no end to the small things clamoring for my attention. When life is busy, it’s easy to…

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5 Golden Rings

by Diane Ferguson

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – FIVE GOLDEN RINGS. For me, December marks 11 amazing years of service working at Opportunity. As I reflect, I consider all that has changed here at Opportunity International as our outreach to hard-working entrepreneurs across the globe soars. One thing from back here in my corner cubicle has not changed a single iota over the years – my true love for our amazing clients. Let me tell you about Jorelyn who operates a thriving business selling…

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7 Ways to Double Your Impact

by Brad Skeba

The end of the year is upon us. With Christmas just around the corner, before we know it 2014 will have drawn to a close. Thanks to the dedication, passion and generosity of our supporters, Opportunity International has had a very exciting year thus far, providing millions of families with the loans, savings, training and support they need to leave poverty in the past. However, the year isn’t over yet. If you are looking to increase your impact by paying it forward this holiday season, we want…

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9 Countries Measuring Transformation

by Steve Nelson

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…

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11 More Months To Be Involved

by Allison Kooser

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,…

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