by Opportunity International
Opportunity International is running a DFID funded Girls Education Challenge (GEC) project in Uganda partnering with Opportunity Bank Uganda and local youth empowerment NGO – Private Education Development Network (PEDN). We are working with 250 schools, over 12,000 girls and over 3000 families by providing: A mixture of loans - to improve school environment and infrastructure; Financial education and life skills training – to set girls up for a better future; Loans for parents - to pay their…
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by Opportunity International
Lydia Baffour Awuah has Opportunity International running through her veins. Like most of our clients, income from her mother’s small trading business in Ghana enabled Lydia to go to school and university. In 2000 Lydia started working for Opportunity Ghana as a Loan Officer. Over the years she has worked in various roles and, on completing a Masters in International Development at the University of Bath, she is now based in our UK Office as a Senior Programme Manager. She regularly returns to…
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by Edward Fox
Nkunku Aby lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the poorest countries in the world. A country where only 3% people own a bank account. Three years ago, Nkunku lost everything. She returned to her small tailoring shop in Kinshasa, the capital city, to find it empty with her business partner gone. Thankfully Opportunity International was there to offer Nkunku the support, start-up capital and training she needed to rebuild her business. Her first loan helped her rent new premises…
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by Opportunity International
This August, The Economist included an article celebrating the power of private education in the developing world. It’s a topic that we know well at Opportunity International – and our shared belief that private schools can be major change agents has motivated us to invest in private schools throughout Africa. We believe that accessible, high-quality schools can make all the difference for students trapped in generational poverty. And so when The Economist references “the fastest-growing…
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by Nathan Byrd
This summer, 83 students in Rwanda have received multi-year scholarships from Opportunity International as part of an exploratory pilot programme aimed at re-imagining the modern scholarship. Scholarships in the developing world have traditionally been seen as an all-or-nothing game. A student is either in extreme poverty who needs everything handed to them, or they are not. But our world does not exist in absolutes. Now is the time to recognize this and adapt to individual needs. There are…
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by Opportunity International
Once again Opportunity International supporters donned their lycra to cycle the rigorous Trois Etapes – a 3 day team cycling race in the French Pyrenees in aid of hard working entrepreneurs living in poverty. Two Opportunity International teams took part in the event which involved some of the toughest climbs of the Tour de France. In total each team member climbed over 8,500 vertical metres over the three days. An amazing £1 million was raised! An incredible amount, which will help thousands…
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by Edward Fox
Two years ago many of you supported our 2012 Christmas appeal, which has made a huge difference to communities living in poverty. The appeal was match funded by the UK government. As a result all donations were doubled, meaning that many of you helped us raise a staggering total of £4 million! This enabled us to set ambitious targets for a two year expansion project across Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda. I want to share with you what has been achieved across Africa and how lives…
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by Terry Watson
Transformation is a powerful word. It illustrates a deep and sustainable change that overcomes circumstance and attitude. A change that alters the future. Looking back on the last 12 months I am once again inspired and humbled by our clients’ determination and belief in their own transformation. These men and women work hard, knowing they have the abilities and drive to provide a better future for their children. With your help this potential is not just known it is unlocked, empowering…
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by Opportunity International
US Board Chair Mark Thompson to assume new role effective immediately Opportunity International Global Board Chair Carly Fiorina today formally announced her U.S. Presidential candidacy. As a result, she is resigning from Opportunity’s Global Board. “Opportunity is unique among nonprofits for their businesslike approach and sustainable client impact,” Fiorina said. “It has been my privilege to serve as their first Global Board Chair. They are in good hands with the many fine global leaders…
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by Jenny Dunn
With 70% of people in Africa working off the land, our Seeds of Opportunity appeal highlighted the continent’s huge agricultural potential. The Appeal, which ran from November 2014 to February 2015 and is our most successful to date, engaged the public with our innovative agricultural programme and the role they can play in unlocking Africa’s potential so that families and communities can thrive. ‘Before my Opportunity loan I was never able to grow enough to feed my family. My life…
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