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

News Blog

Celebrating #GivingTuesday with #UNselfies

by Lauren Thorn

Share your #unselfie on Giving Tuesday. Help break the cycle of poverty by supporting the work of Opportunity International.

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Why I Think We Can End Extreme Poverty In My Lifetime

by Allison Kooser

We can see an end to extreme poverty in our lifetime. Read Allison Kooser's latest blog post about how we can move forward and move the needle even more.

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The Power of Community

by Allison Kooser

This blog was originally given as a speech at the Gallery of Opportunity event in New York City on October 16, 2014.  Everyone has an elevator pitch. The brief explanation of what they do (and if you are lucky, why they do it) that they can pull out and rattle off at a moment’s notice to anyone who might show signs of interest. I’m no exception. I have a personal one – the story that explains me as a brand. And I have one for Opportunity International, the international non-profit organization…

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Samuel’s determination to give his students a better future

by Gareth Simpson

In September 2014 I was fortunate to visit Opportunity International’s programmes in Ghana where we support 70,000 small businesses with microloans and provide savings facilities to over 375,000 Ghanaians living in poverty. The country’s rich mineral resources of gold and oil mean Ghana is officially a middle income country. But the reality is that many, many Ghanaians still live in poverty. During my visit, I saw living conditions comparable to or worse than countries with lower GDPs. The informal…

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A Day in the Life of an Insight Trip Traveler

by Lois Melkonian

Travelling by bus through Colombia with our team of 24, plus two security guards, was quite a feat. And on this particular Wednesday afternoon in Cartagena it was hot, very hot. Our fearless leader, Brian Olarte, briefed us on what we would be experiencing. First stop:  Trust Groups, where we had the privilege to observe first-hand how people receiving Opportunity International micro enterprise loans check in with each other. They not only hold each other accountable, they also support one another…

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YAO Leaders Join 60,000 Change-makers at Global Citizen Festival

by Keri Cook and Luke Tubergen

On September 27, the YAO-New York leadership team joined 60,000 other change-makers for the Global Citizen Festival – a concert designed to support an array of poverty-fighting efforts around the world. By YAO-New York Leaders Keri Cook and Luke Tubergen This year's Global Citizen Festival was, in a word, impressive. Some 60,000 young change-makers flocked to Central Park on Sept. 27 to support an array of poverty-fighting efforts set forth by Global Citizen, Opportunity International and many…

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Painted Piggy Banks & Smiling Faces

by Greg & Beth Smith

Each day of the Colombia Insight Trip with Opportunity International (OI) has provided a feast of unique experiences and memories to treasure. Thursday was no different. Since Colombia does not observe Daylight Savings Time, the day started very early. By 6:30AM, kids were excitedly playing soccer on the beach while a large group of half-submerged bathers formed a circle about 50 yards out into the glimmering Caribbean. The early morning shower that left puddles on our patio did not dampen anyone’s…

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The Story of the Girl

by Opportunity International

October 11 is the International Day of the Girl. At Opportunity International, we are proud to support women and girls around the world. And today, we are proud to share the story of Amina Mendez, a girl who is transforming her life and her community.  Meet Amina… Amina Mendez, 24, is from Nueva Ecija,a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. She grew up with her mother, Remy, who was a day laborer at a farm making about $2 a day. When Amina was five, her mother received an…

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From Bogotá to Cartagena

by Nida Khoutakoun

The day started with an introduction to Sebastian Perez Villarreal, Foreign Investment Advisor with ProExport Colombia. ProExport Colombia is a government agency that is responsible for boosting tourism, foreign investment, and exports promotion. Sebastian informed us that microfinance is increasing and has risen 17% since 2013, and the portfolio of funds has increased by 13.7%.

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A Stable Society Must be Based on Economic Opportunity for All

by Katy Drake

On Monday morning, the official program portion of our Insight Trip in Colombia began. The highlight of the first morning was visiting the downtown office of the Opportunity Bank. Just over two years ago, Opportunity International was granted a banking license in Colombia and made the transition from a non-regulated finance institution to a full-fledged bank.

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