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© 2026 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

News Blog

Happy Labor Day to Our Hard-Working Clients

by Opportunity International

Labor Day in the U.S. is a century-old holiday–a tribute to trade and labor–that honors workers and their families. For Opportunity clients in the developing world, often self-employed entrepreneurs, providing for the future can be a difficult struggle. So on this Labor Day, we honor all of our clients who work hard every day to provide for their family. Here is the story of one such family: Noemi Gallegos and Jose Luis Barajas were raised in a small village called La Huacana, in Michoacan,…

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Book Release—UnPoverty: Rich Lessons from the Working Poor

by Opportunity International

People living in the most extreme poverty in the world do not just survive: they often enjoy rich family relationships, build vibrant communities and exude deep faith. Their ingenuity, persistence, generosity and self-reliance contain teachings for those of us who happen to have been born into relative economic stability. That is the inspiration and the theme ofUnPoverty: Rich Lessons from the Working Poor, a new book written by Mark Lutz, the senior vice-president of global philanthropy for…

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Want to do more to fight poverty? Host a dinner for microfinance.

by Opportunity International

The best ideas are shared over food. That’s why Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) is launching “Breaking Bread for Microfinance.”  In honor ofhttp://www.opportunity.org/blog/cynthia-world-hunger-post/International Poverty Eradication Day[/intlink] on October 17, http://www.opportunity.org/young-ambassadors-for-opportunity/YAO[/intlink] encourages you to host a dinner for family and friends. It’s a way for guests and hosts alike to share their ideas and their inspirations for global…

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Climb a Mountain, Get Muddy: YAO’s Adventures on OptINnow

by Opportunity International

Escape to Bear Mountain, N.Y. YAO-NY member Brandon Green, an investment banker, was looking for a way to get out of the city. So he decided to start a “YAO Adventure Club of sorts,” and brought a group of ten people up to hike on Bear Mountain, N.Y. a few weekends ago. “Everyone chipped in for the rental car,” he says, “and we donated those proceeds to help fund client Donasian Mbiry‘s loan in Tanzania through our YAO Adventure Club group on OptINnow. We got some cool pictures of…

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Agricultural Advisor John Magnay Talks Food Security in Africa, and How Agricultural Finance Can Feed a Continent

by Opportunity International

“Africa is capable of sustaining its food needs,” said John Magnay, Opportunity’s senior agricultural advisor. “[But] if you look at [crop] yields in Africa, it is at 40% of what it should be.” Magnay, a British-born, 33-year veteran of the agricultural development sector in Africa, has worked with several African governments to develop agricultural advancements, and now leadshttp://www.opportunity.org/Opportunity[/intlink]‘s agricultural finance program in Africa. His work is highlighted…

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What We’re Reading: World Finance Magazine Discusses Opportunity’s Agricultural Finance Program

by Opportunity International

Amosi Kasamira’s face lights up as he shares his plans for the next season. ‘My vision is to replace the grass roof of our home to better protect us from the sun and rain,’ he explains, ‘and I intend to cultivate ten acres next season.’ –Excerpted from: ‘There is Still a Lot of Work Ahead,’ World Finance, July-August 2010 (pp. 152-154) Amosi Kasamira and his wife heard about the agricultural finance program at Opportunity International Bank of http://www.opportunity.org/our-work/where-we-work/microfinance-in-africa/microfinance-in-malawi/Malawi[/intlink]…

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We’re Expanding Financial Access to Rural Malawi. Here’s How You Can Help.

by Opportunity International

Travel in your mind to the shores of Lake Malawi. In this remote region, extreme poverty is widespread. But because of the donations, hard work and advocacy of Opportunity supporters and staff, the Malawians here have been empowered financially. To reach the unreachable,http://www.opportunity.org/Opportunity International[/intlink] Malawi has replicated its successful “hub-and-spoke” approach by opening a hub branch office in the district capital Nsanje, followed by the most recent launch of a…

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“Is Your Nonprofit Blog a Snoozer?” Find the Solution at SXSW Interactive 2011

by Emily Riemer

Ever wonder how nonprofits write successful blogs, turning high readership into active support? Believe me, it’s a challenge.  No matter how interesting your nonprofit’s work, if you don’t offer a variety of content on your blog–a range of technical, informative and human interest stories–it won’t engage supporters. If you’re the editor of a nonprofit blog–or even a for-profit blog–and are challenged to turn passive readers into activists, vote to bring http://www.opportunity.org/Opportunity[/intlink]‘s…

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An Unforgettable Family Trip to Kenya and Malawi

by Rich McClure

Opportunity supporter and member of the Board of Governors, Rich McClure, writes of his experiences on the July 2010 Family Week trip to Kenya and his visits to Malawi: Visiting eastern Africa, we met women and men who have enterprises fueled by microloans, who are selling their goods in crowded, dirty marketplaces in Nairobi and Lilongwe. We spent time with dedicated loan officers and the management of Opportunity branches, transformation staff, and CEOs and regional managers of operations…

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Bring Opportunity to SXSW 2011 and Find Out if There’s “Life After Blackbaud”

by Opportunity International

Bring Opportunity to South by Southwest (SXSW)! Jonathan Neddenriep, our software engineer, is proposing one of two interactive panels featuring Opportunity at SXSW 2011 in Austin, Tex. His panel is called “Life After Blackbaud.” He says it will explain howhttp://www.opportunity.org/Opportunity[/intlink] “left nonprofit-specific technology platforms and hasn’t looked back.” More details: Traditionally, nonprofits have used CMS and CRM platforms from dedicated nonprofit technology companies…

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