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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

InStyle Magazine Features Malin Akerman’s Work with Opportunity International

by Lauren Williamson

Whatever money is made at Opportunity International’s La Emprendedora School goes back into its programs—a promise that made a life-changing impact on actress Malin Akerman during a recent Insight Trip to Nicaragua. The November issue of InStyle magazine features Malin sharing the deep connections she made with Opportunity International clients during that trip, as well as a visit to Tanzania. InStyle is distributed in the United States and 17 other countries and has a total circulation of nearly…

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Introducing the CEM, Chief Executive Mother

by Trent Anderson

Trent was an Intern with Opportunity International in the Summer of 2013. The average chief executive officer’s (CEO) responsibilities include building relationships, managing and planning. Most CEOs earn their prominent positions through experience, hard work and intelligence. These same core strengths and values comprise the foundation of a mother’s work. It’s ironic because women, despite their principal familial roles, remain one of the most subjugated social groups worldwide. The idea…

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The Need for Drinkable Water

by Steph Jimenez

Steph was an Intern with Opportunity International in the Summer of 2013. Our first instinct on a hot, humid day is to drink a cold, refreshing glass of water. We rarely think twice about whether it’s available. Faucet on, faucet off. Though clean drinking water is essential for health, 780 million people have no access to it. Inadequate drinking water poses serious health risks such as tapeworms, diarrhea and viruses that lead, in some cases, to preventable deaths. Daily, millions of people across…

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Big Goals and Great Strides Toward Ending Hunger

by Madeline Stone

Over the past 30 years, the world has made great strides in the eradication of worldwide poverty. In fact, according to a World Bank report, 751 million fewer people are living in extreme poverty compared to 1981. While we are clearly making huge strides, the report also found that the quality of life for those living in poverty is as bad today as it was in 1981. Fortunately, we have greatly decreased the amount of hungry people in the world: Since 1990, the number has dropped by 152 million people.…

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Opportunity International Gets Blog Action Day Shout Outs

by Madeline Stone

Every year in October, bloggers from around the world unite on Blog Action Day to write about a single topic. This year, it’s Human Rights. Here at Opportunity International we believe a life of dignity and purpose is a fundamental right. Unfortunately most budding entrepreneurs in the developing world don’t have access to education and training necessary to start their own business. Most banks turn them down when they ask for a loan. But not here at Opportunity International. We give small loans…

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CEO Vicki Escarra Blogs about Agriculture Finance for Huffington Post

by Lauren Williamson

Africa has enough arable land to feed a population of 2.5 billion—yet millions of its 1 billion people go hungry every day. But at Opportunity International, we believe equipping farmers in Africa with the funding and market connections to stabilize their production is key to breaking the cycle of hunger. It’s a message Opportunity International CEO Vicki Escarra underscored in her most recent Huffington Post blog about the link between agriculture finance and food security. The blog post spotlighted…

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Faith in Action: Nonprofit Microfinance in the News

by Professor Emeritus Martin E. Marty

The following is a post written by Professor Emeritus Martin E. Marty for Sightings, a blog from the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School. A prominent interpreter of religion and culture, Marty is the author of more than 50 books, as well as a speaker, columnist, pastor and teacher, and was a professor of religious history for 35 years at the University of Chicago. His original post was published on Monday, Dec. 13, entitled ”Microfinance.” Sightings has…

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Opportunity International Announces New Unified Vision

by Lauren Williamson

At Opportunity International, we’ve worked for 42 years to achieve our mission of giving people in the developing world the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Now we have a stronger way of sharing that mission with the world. Opportunity International announced last week unified messaging that clarifies our vision, mission, motivation, values and methods throughout our worldwide organization. Our work hasn’t changed—just our way of sharing it with the world. Watch Opportunity…

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Pope Francis: ‘Where there is Work, There is Dignity’

by Lauren Williamson

Pope Francis shared a simple but powerful message during a Sept. 22 visit to the Italian island Sardinia. “Where there is no work,” he said, “there is no dignity.” That philosophy drives Opportunity International every day. Our work isn’t about handouts. We empower people in the developing world to lift themselves out of poverty. Opportunity International loans, training and other services have generated roughly 10 million jobs across more than 22 countries since 1971. But we’re just…

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Proper Healthcare – A Prerequisite to Economic Development in Africa

by Opportunity International

Monday October 7 is Child Health Day. A day intended to raise people’s awareness of how they can protect and develop children’s health. The following post is by Christie Lacey. Christie was an Intern with Opportunity International in the Summer of 2013. Imagine living in an area where you are lucky to live past 45, the infant mortality rate is 17 percent and more than 34 million children are orphans due to poor healthcare. This is the reality of life in sub-Saharan Africa. The African continent…

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