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Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

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© 2025 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

News Blog

Waymaker Wednesday: Gentil

by Opportunity International

Gentil is an artist who escaped from Burundi. He used to run workshops for young artists and was accused by the government of training rebel soldiers so he had to flee. He now lives with his grandmother and nephews, who he supports in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Gentil, just like any other refugees, faced challenges of access to finance and income opportunities in the settlement. However, through our partner bank, he received a small loan. He used his loan to set up a local portrait business.…

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Program Manager in the Field: 3 Defining Insights from my Trip to Uganda

by Kyle Fiechter

How can a non-profit work with social enterprises to reduce poverty? When I visited Opportunity’s operations in Uganda in November, this question loomed in my mind—I was curious to discover the best ways Opportunity International could continue to work with our implementing partner, Opportunity Bank Uganda, Ltd. (OBUL), to design sustainable solutions for underserved communities. As program manager for the region, I was eager to see our partnership in action on the ground. From left to right:…

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A memoir of a life across continents

by Allison Kooser

This month, the Opportunity Book Club is traveling across countries and continents through Nadia Owusu’s powerful memoir, Aftershocks. Owusu, born to a Ghanaian father and Armenian-American mother, bounced from place to place as a child—living in Italy, Uganda, England, and Tanzania all before she reached adulthood. Her life was defined by movement, instability, and profound loss; her mother left when she was two, and her father died when she was 13. Left to be raised by her stepmother, Owusu…

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2021 WeGO Award Winners: Increasing Opportunities for Women

by Nicole Brown

Championing programs and supporting projects that increase inclusion and chart a pathway out of poverty for women and girls globally is at the heart of Opportunity International’s work. We are pleased to share the 2021 winner and finalists in the Women and Girls Opportunity (WeGO) Award for their work to do just that. First Place Program: Mentoring for Women in Business Partner: Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Location: Ghana  Opportunity International’s partner, Sinapi Aba Savings and…

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6 places the Opportunity International Book Club explored in 2021 and more

by Allison Kooser

In a year full of ups and downs, we found solace, education, and adventure curling up with great books. The Opportunity Book Club enjoyed novels, memoirs, human psychology, business reads, and more every month. We love exploring the world from the comfort of our homes! We choose books written by authors from the countries in which Opportunity International works; books that share stories from communities around the world; and books that teach us about important issues like poverty, famine, and development. …

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Waymaker Wednesday: Santosh

by Opportunity International

We entered the home of 30-year old Santosh, and were offered a mat on the ground to sit on. We got settled and the men left. And only then, did Santosh remove the scarf that was acting as a veil, and we saw her face. One of eight children, Santosh never went to school. Her parents used what little money they had, to send her brothers instead. Santosh can’t read or write and she struggled to find the words to express why she’s so adamant her daughters won’t miss out on the opportunities she…

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Through the eyes of an elephant

by Allison Kooser

One of our favorite things to do is travel the world through the pages of a great book. So this winter, while the weather outside is frightful, curl up with a story that transports you somewhere new. Join us as we kick off another year of reading with Alex Lasker’s The Memory of an Elephant. Told through the perspective of an aging elephant as he makes his way across East Africa, The Memory of an Elephant spans both countries and generations, weaving a heartwarming—and heartbreaking—story of…

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50 for 50: Looking Back at 50 Years

by Atul Tandon

When Al Whittaker made a tiny loan to Carlos Moreno a street spice seller, in Colombia in 1971, he could not have imagined the tidal waves of impact his one small action would spark. Al’s start in Latin America, combined with David Bussau’s similar efforts in Asia, launched Opportunity International—which now has reached nearly 250 million people over the past 50 years. Carlos Moreno, Colombia For five decades, Opportunity has stayed committed to its founding principles: serving those…

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50 for 50: Back to the Beginning - David Bussau

by Alexis Beggs Olsen

This essay is a selection from the special edition of UnPoverty by Mark Lutz. The new edition has been released in celebration of Opportunity International’s 50th Anniversary, featuring new chapters from leaders throughout Opportunity’s history. To receive a copy, simply make a donation of any size to Opportunity and we’ll send it to you. David Bussau always knew that having “enough” was about more than financial success.   Throughout his life, David would grow in his understanding…

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50 for 50: Back to the Beginning: Al Whittaker

by Don Whittaker

This essay is a selection from the special edition of UnPoverty by Mark Lutz. The new edition has been released in celebration of Opportunity International’s 50th Anniversary, featuring new chapters from leaders throughout Opportunity’s history. To receive a copy, simply make a donation of any size to Opportunity and we’ll send it to you. Dad told enough stories about his work with Opportunity International to fill an entire book. What I want to share in the next few pages is the way God called…

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