Donate

Menu

Donate

Follow Us

Search

PO Box 2826
Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

Toll Free: 1-800-793-9455

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

News Blog

Mourning the Sudden Death of Ghana’s President, John Atta Mills

by Opportunity International

Ghanaian president John Atta Mills died unexpectedly of a sudden illness on Tuesday at the age of 68. As the Ghanaian people mourn the death of the law professor-turned-leader who they affectionately called “The Prof,” global media is taking note of the smooth transition of the country during this difficult time. The BBC and other news outlets report that the swift and smooth swearing-in of the vice president, John Dramani Mahama, highlights how far Ghana has gone on the road to democracy. It’s…

Read More

Credit Suisse’s Microfinance Work Recognized at the Financial Times/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards

by Emily Terrell

Opportunity would like to offer our congratulations to our partner Credit Suisse. They were awarded a special commendation for their microfinance program in the Sustainable Global Bank of the Year category at the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation Sustainable Finance Awards. The annual FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, now in their seventh year, are the major global awards for environmentally- and socially-responsible banking and investment. The 2012 awards were presented on June…

Read More

What We’re Reading: The World Bank’s Africa Can…End Poverty Blog

by Opportunity International

The World Bank’s blogs cover a wide range of global economic issues. One blog titled Africa Can… End Poverty is run by Shanta Devarajan who is the Chief Economist for Africa at The World Bank. As Opportunity International continues to expand its work in Africa, including agricultural finance, mobile banking, and financial literacy training, I have highlighted three blog posts that speak to our mission and methods. 1. “Cassava As an Income-Earning Crop for Small Farmers” This post emphasizes…

Read More

Opportunity’s Olympic Champions

by Opportunity International

I love the Olympics. I come from an athletic family and growing up, our family ban on TV was always lifted for two events: the Olympics and the Tour de France. I love watching people push their bodies to the limit as they perform feats that I know are close to impossible, but that with all their grace and agility look so easy. I love the athletes’ background stories narrated by the iconic NBC host Bob Costas—often featuring someone who managed to persevere through tough times and finally see…

Read More

Program Update: Opportunity Mozambique is Cultivating Hope among Smallholder Farmers

by Diane Ferguson

Opportunity International is helping smallholder farmers achieve optimum output to put more food on the family table and increase food security in their communities. We’re committed to helping farmers in sub-Saharan Africa transition from subsistence to economically- and commercially-active farming. Through an innovative and sustainable approach to agricultural finance, Opportunity provides products and services designed to achieve financial sustainability. These efforts ensure an ongoing contribution…

Read More

CEO Announcement Letter from Betty Jane Hess

by Betty Jane Hess

Betty Jane Hess, is chair of Opportunity’s Board of Directors, and is welcoming our incoming CEO Vicki Escarra. Dear Friends, I am pleased to announce that Opportunity International has completed its executive search, and I am delighted to introduce you to our new CEO, Vicki Escarra. Vicki is an exceptional leader, bringing to Opportunity International her expertise in people and financial management, resource development, marketing and execution of business strategies. As president and CEO…

Read More

How to Change Moms’ Lives with Pinterest

by Emily Terrell

To celebrate Mother’s Day last May, we created the Global Opportunity Quilt, a tool that let donors honor women they love with gifts that change the lives of women on the other side of the world. Donors chose from 24 inspirational patches with quotes and images about motherhood, and with a gift of anywhere from $5-$500, they could write custom tributes and added their patches to the Quilt. Then they shared the patches directly with the women they honored and on social media, especially Pinterest…

Read More

Follow-up: Lydia’s Olympic Torch Moment

by Opportunity International

On Tuesday, Opportunity-UK’s Lydia Baffour Awuah made us all very proud when she carried the Olympic flame in Abingdon, U.K.–at 7:58 a.m. local time. Below, check out some photos of her big moment, provided by Harry Turner, CEO of Global Microfinance Operations. The British bank Lloyds TSB is an Olympic sponsor and a strategic partner of Opportunity-UK, and they had a spot available for a torchbearer. So Lydia’s Opportunity colleagues nominated her, telling the story of her upbringing and her…

Read More

The Passing of Ross Clemenger, a Pioneer of Opportunity Colombia

by Opportunity International

We were saddened to learn that one of Opportunity International’s earliest supporters, Ross Clemenger, died unexpectedly on Sunday morning at the age of 88. More than forty years ago, Ross helped Opportunity make its first loan to client Carlos Moreno in Colombia, and the Canadian native was the first executive director and the founder of AGAPE, our microfinance partner in Colombia. Ross’s commitment to eradicating poverty in that country has continued with his efforts to help us secure a bank…

Read More

Opportunity UK’s Lydia Baffour Awuah Will Be Olympic Torchbearer Tomorrow!

by Opportunity International

Opportunity International-UK’s Lydia Baffour Awuah has been chosen to be one of the torchbearers in the Olympic torch relay. Lydia will be carrying the flame tomorrow–Tuesday, July 10–at 1:41 a.m. Central Standard Time (7:41 a.m. BST, local time) from the town of Abingdon, U.K., just south of Oxford. Tomorrow is day 53 of the relay, which culminates on July 27 at the Olympic stadium in London. Lydia is a program manager at Opportunity-UK, overseeing special projects in Ghana and Malawi. Previously,…

Read More

Filters

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to receive Opportunity International microfinance news and updates via email or RSS.

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe to our Newsletter