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Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

Toll Free: 1-800-793-9455

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

News Blog

The 8 Rules of EduFinance Product Design

by Nathan Byrd

The role of Opportunity International’s Education Finance program is to turn microfinance products and services into vehicles of educational attainment.  Our job is to take the traditional model of microfinance and use it in a unique, innovative way that gets children into school and keeps them there. The Education Finance program, at first glance, can seem to host a rather random cadre of products and services on offer to our clients.  This, however, could not be further from the truth. Every…

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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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10 of Our Favorite Blog Posts of 2014

by Opportunity International

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.  The Opportunity International blog captures the stories of our work each year. As I look back on 2014, I'm reminded of bright moments - the launch of Social Performance Management, engaging campaigns, inspiring Insight Trips and interviews with incredible supporters, among others. These moments paint the picture of a year full of progress, hard work and…

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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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12 Million Jobs

by Lydia Baldridge Meier

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.  During our first 43 years, Opportunity International’s work has created and sustained 12.5 million jobs around the world, and we aim to reach 20 million by 2018. I was intrigued by the Pope’s interview in which he gave ten suggestions for living a happier life. Many of his suggestions are centered on personal behaviors. One of them however leapt…

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Empowering Generational Change through Education

by Opportunity International

“Investing in education is one of the most decisive ways to help people work their way out of poverty,” said Vicki Escarra, Global CEO of Opportunity International. “Research has shown that education raises a student’s future economic status and can even extend life expectancy. We look forward to continuing our important partnership with Credit Suisse to expand educational opportunities for thousands of youth through access to financial services.” Today we are pleased to announce a partnership…

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Celebrating Cyber Monday Around the World

by Brad Skeba

I’m all about Cyber Monday. It’s when I go hunting for the holiday deals. To tell the truth, I’ve never been able to do the whole Black Friday thing. I blame Thanksgiving for this. Let me explain.  In my family, Thanksgiving is about one thing: the food. I cannot emphasize this enough. I’m talking about going back for seconds, thirds and sometime around midnight, a snack – which, if I’m being honest, is a whole meal unto itself. Only after I’m truly stuffed is it time for bed. As a…

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Happy Thanksgiving from our CEO

by Vicki Escarra

Dear Friends,  Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on things that are truly important to us like family and friends. I'm also extremely thankful to be part of Opportunity International and grateful for your support.  Together, our hard work is transforming lives and making a difference. And there's no better feeling in the world than that. Again, thank you dear friends. Best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful (and delicious) Thanksgiving.  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let…

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Thankful for Dreams that Come True

by Opportunity International

Remy Mendez, a dedicated mother living in poverty in the Philippines, struggled to provide for her daughter Amina. Amina’s biggest dream was to go to school, but Remy and her husband couldn’t afford to educate Amina and her sister. But with the help of an Opportunity International loan, Remy built a business and transformed her family’s future. And with the additional support of a special scholarship, Amina was able to complete her university education in the United States. Today, Amina is…

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Scale, Impact & Sustainability: An Innovative Model for Educating Vulnerable Children

by Allison Bearden

Opportunity International recognizes the transformative power of education. Learn about our innovative model for educating vulnerable children world-wide.

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