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© 2026 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.
Headquarters: 101 N Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60606

News Blog

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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6 Pressing Challenges Facing Women and Girls - And How We're Helping

by Allison Bearden

1.  Financial Exclusion. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of women worldwide have a bank account compared to 46% of men. Additionally, more women report using someone else’s account than men, which may reveal key barriers women face in opening an account on their own. Despite the gender gap in global financial inclusion rates, research affirms that children’s lives improve when women are more involved in money management in their households. Opportunity recognizes the challenges women face in accessing…

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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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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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