News Blog
‘I Want My School to be Big’: Educator Shares Dreams on ‘GOOD’ Blog
Comfort Appiah was so secretive when she started a school in her home, she didn’t even tell her husband. Fifteen years later, that school now serves 800 children in Accra, Ghana. (And yes, her husband knows.) An Opportunity International loan allowed Comfort to grow the school from its humble roots to approach her goal of educating thousands.Comfort wrote about her journey from underground educator to official school proprietor for the online community GOOD. “I want my school to be big,” she…
Read MoreAn Unstoppable Loan Client
Steph was an Intern with Opportunity International in the Summer of 2013. Opportunity International works in more than 20 countries including the Philippines. Manila businesswoman, Concepcion Valenzuela, makes 10 types of ceramics products in her small rented shop. With the help of several Opportunity loans, Concepcion purchased clay, paint and equipment such as a mixing machine and rented a larger shop. She now employs seven workers and produces an inventory of hundreds of products, including delicate…
Read MoreTransforming Lives Together
On September 26, Opportunity International will celebrate the Caterpillar Foundation’s 20-year partnership. Opportunity estimates that nearly 18.3 million lives will be improved as a result of grants received from the Caterpillar Foundation from 1994 to 2014, which totals nearly $30 million. Because of their caring and generous partnership, our clients are working their way out of poverty, strengthening their families and building vibrant communities. Here is a glimpse into the lives of those impacted…
Read MoreWe’re Thankful for Fathers Around the World
At Opportunity International, we are honored to support fathers around the world who are building better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. This Father’s Day, we are excited to share the story of one of the many exceptional, successful fathers striving to create a difference for his family. Meet Patrick Pande, a remarkable husband and father of 7, living in Uganda. With a strong background in agriculture and a desire to educate his 7 children, Patrick acquired his first…
Read MoreThe Father of a Community
By Stephanie Jimenez on June 14, 2013 This Father’s Day, we are celebrating Dads. Join us as we share the stories of some of our inspiring male clients, and support more fathers at opportunity.org. Meet Ssalongo, a businessman residing in Kampala, Uganda. Before becoming an Opportunity client, he earned $2 a day from a small chicken business he inherited from his grandfather. Although Ssalongo was moderately successful, he felt unsatisfied and was determined to make a change. Ssalongo borrowed…
Read MoreGrowing a Family Small Business
Francisco and Fidel Aleman are brothers working together to run a wood artisan business that has been in their family for the past 15 years. They were initially taught the trade by their “abuelo” Jose Jacinto Aleman. Jose is now 95 but still hangs around their workshop during the day. Through partnering with Opportunity Nicaragua for the past 2 years as part of the Artisan Community Program, Fidel and Francisco have been able to export their products out of Nicaragua. Because of this, they have…
Read More3 Ways Opportunity International Will Tackle Poverty in Mozambique This Year
Opportunity Mozambique is providing over 57,000 impoverished clients with loans, savings and insurance to catalyze sustainable economic development across the country. In 2013, Banco Oportunidade de Moçambique (BOM) will reach more impoverished families through the following three strategies, among others: Investing in Savings Expansion with New Products and Promotions. Savings help protect low-income families against shocks, smooth household consumption, enhance business productivity and empower…
Read MoreThe Power of Technology to Eradicate Poverty
Technology efficiently and cheaply brings financial services to people in remote or rural areas. It breaks through barriers throughout the developing world, where people are excluded from financial services because of illiteracy, expensive transportation and geographic isolation. With the support of our strategic partners, individual donors and dedicated staff, Opportunity International leverages technology to help free people from the cycle of poverty. We utilize cell phone banking, satellite bank…
Read More$1.2 Million Raised, 8,000 Women Empowered in One Woman Holiday Challenge
A big thank you to the hundreds of amazing people who joined Opportunity International’s One Woman Holiday Challenge. At the end of 2012, we contributed more than $1.2 million in just 45 days to empower women in poverty! Together, we enabled over 8,000 women to grow businesses, increase their incomes, and have safe places to save, helping them to provide a better future for their families. What does one gift mean to one woman? Clean Water through Community Leadership For Ana Celia Acuña, a gift…
Read MoreUganda Clients Increase Savings
Leveraging creative community outreach, Opportunity International Uganda is helping clients invest in their own futures through savings accounts. In just a few months in 2012, a savings drive launched by Opportunity Uganda increased the value of clients’ deposits by 23%, according to the bank’s CEO, André Lalumière. André attributes the campaign’s success to radio advertising and weekend branch events that help staff engage the local community. When Opportunity clients have a safe place…
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