News Blog
The pressing need to support refugees in Uganda
Uganda hosts the third largest population of refugees in the world, after Turkey and Pakistan. Forced displacement now affects the lives of 71 million women, men and children - imagine the entire population of the UK and Ireland on the move! No one doubts the generosity of Uganda’s government and people to the 1.3 million refugees and displaced people who settle there - many of whom come from South Sudan, DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. Some doubts have been recently cast on the exact numbers as certain…
Read MoreBridging the Humanitarian and Development divide
This last month I’ve been thinking a lot about Refugees. In November I met Therese (pictured below) in Nakivale refugee settlement in southern Uganda. Theresa is from the Democratic Republic of Congo from which she fled with her children after her husband was taken by rebel militia. She arrived at Nakivale in September 2019 and currently lives in the resettlement centre waiting to receive her plot of land to build a home on. She receives two meals a day. Therese is ambitious and determined…
Read MorePeople don’t want handouts; they want an Opportunity
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting one of our new projects working with Refugees in Uganda, which aims to provide up to 20,000 refugee with access to savings, loans and financial training so they can start to build secure businesses. I was there to meet and interview refugees, to find out how our project could support them and meet their needs. Nakivale Refugee Settlement is home to some 120,000 refugees and has approximately 400 new arrivals each week. Over 50% of refugees are…
Read MoreA Christmas Letter from the CEO
I am thrilled to be part of Opportunity International and have been amazed by the commitment and generosity of our donors. It has enabled millions of people to build secure lives for themselves, their families and their communities. At a time of many global challenges, Opportunity International is on the frontline, serving some of world’s poorest communities. One of the things that excites me most about Opportunity International, and why I wanted to be part of it, is how it provides a hand up…
Read MoreThe Power of Opportunity to transform people's lives
Sam Bickersteth started as Chief Executive of Opportunity International UK on 1st October 2019. Sam has been working on agriculture, livelihoods and climate change challenges in Africa Asia and Latin America for more than 30 years. This last week has been Financial Inclusion Week looking specifically at questions around the purpose and approach for microfinance through the lens of financial inclusion. Being new to Opportunity International I’ve been delving into the figures around microfinance….Recent…
Read MoreIntroducing Bettina
Bettina is 24 and currently expecting her third child. She left school after completing primary education which is free in Malawi. Secondary school is not. Her parents could not afford the fees so she could not continue her studies. She wanted to carry on. Living in a remote village in rural Malawi, Bettina had little access to vocational skills training or finance after she left school. When Opportunity International visited her village and offered a new programme focussed on empowering young…
Read MoreHelping Young Women Get Ahead
There are not many employment opportunities in the Northern regions of Ghana. Many girls and young women living in extreme poverty often leave their rural homes, migrating to more prosperous cities in the south to find work. Cities provide more opportunities to earn money which they can then send home to support their families. Most of these young women have no formal education or qualifications so their employment options are limited. Many become kayayei, which means head porter. Head porters…
Read MoreBig Dreams for a Smallholder Farmer
The livelihoods of rice farmers in the Upper East of Ghana are being transformed. Large-scale irrigation projects mean that farmers are now able to have two rice harvests per year: one in the harsh, dry season and the other in the rainy season. This increases the size of their harvests and the chance to earn more money for their families. It also ensures that farmers are less dependent on one single, seasonal income. This provides an added degree of financial security in a place where crops are vulnerable…
Read MoreA Thirst for Success
Mariam lives in the Northern Region of Ghana. She is a solo entrepreneur and she has been able to grow a thriving refreshment business. She is known for making a popular local drink called ‘somkom’ which is made with millet, ginger, pepper and sugar. She is the only vendor in her community selling it and has developed a very loyal customer base over the years. She brews and bottles the drinks in her home each day and people come from far and wide to purchase it. On an average day Mariam sells…
Read MoreStart Early. Succeed Young.
When children learn basic financial skills from an early age, they are significantly more likely to make wise financial decisions as adults. That’s why it is never too early to start learning about money management or develop a savings habit. This is especially critical in Sub-Saharan Africa where much of the population has neither access to secure savings nor a safety net when hard times hit. In Uganda, we are working to deliver a two-part financial education programme in secondary schools. Students…
Read MoreFilters
-
Archives
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- October 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- April 2014