News & Stories Blog
World news on the fight to alleviate poverty – follow innovations in microfinance, technology and community development that are changing lives in developing countries.
Life for Madina is better thanks to a buffalo loan
Madina is a married mother of three and is now running a successful buffalo milk business thanks to a Buffaloan from Opportunity International Australia’s local partner in India. Her family live on farmland, growing rice and other crops for their own use and selling some, but their income was low. Her husband and eldest two sons work in nearby factories, but the family struggled financially. Madina hopes income earned from her buffalo will help with her children's future. With a small loan, Madina…
Read MoreProud to be helping her community
Pramila, a 46-year-old mother of three, is a self-made woman. As a child, Pramila dreamed of becoming a nurse. “I experienced the shortage of medical services and doctors in my own community in Patna in northeast India, leading to maternal deaths,” Pramila said. She wanted to do something to help. The youngest of five siblings, Pramila’s father encouraged all of his children to study, regardless of gender. Whilst still attending school, Pramila was married at age 16, which was the norm in her…
Read MoreSupanti’s children continue to learn with a loan
For Supanti, a hardworking mother in Central Java, Indonesia, a school fee loan is enabling her three children to go to school. Supanti sells fruits and vegetables for a living, while her husband, Trianto, works as a driver. Their income pays for the family’s daily needs – things like food and household needs. Like many families just making ends meet, the idea of having a large lump sum for school fees to pay at the start of each year seemed near impossible. There simply was not enough money.…
Read MoreGrowing seaweed to support the family
On the remote island of Rote in Indonesia, the options for employment are limited. Aranci, a married mother of five children, and her husband Abraham struggled financially. They couldn’t afford meat, milk or even rice. Heartbreakingly, they also had to pull two of their children out of school before they graduated primary school. Determined to change things for their family, Aranci started growing seaweed in the waters near her home. Seaweed is a sustainable product that Aranci sells locally to…
Read MoreDavid Bussau reflects on his Opportunity journey
At 83 years old, David Bussau AM, founder of Opportunity International Australia, is still as passionate as ever about microfinance being part of the solution to ending poverty. David became one of the pioneers of microfinance when he offered a loan to a farmer in Indonesia named Ketut, who purchased a sewing machine, and with his wife started a tailoring business. This was the beginning of what grew to become Opportunity International Australia today. David recently shared his reflections on the…
Read MoreStrong bond helps couple run successful business
Anjeeta and her husband Vinubhai run a successful snack stall and tailoring business in the Gujarat region in India. The couple, who both have mobility issues, are a wonderful success story, thanks to a loan from one of Opportunity International Australia’s local partners. “With my first loan I bought a sewing machine and slowly I started sewing and making some money to support my family,” said Anjeeta.”Then we took the second loan to start our corner shop.” Anjeeta feels a real sense of…
Read MoreInvesting in women this International Women’s Day
On 8 March the world marks International Women’s Day, a celebration of the achievements of women globally. In 2024, it’s also a rally behind the call to 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress.' Since Opportunity’s origins in the 1970s, financially including women has been key to breaking the cycle of poverty – and today, 95 per cent of Opportunity’s loan clients are women. To achieve gender equality, an investment in women and girls is vital at all levels – whether it’s providing decent…
Read MoreKeeping girls like Yumna in school
Education is one of the most effective tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. However, for children living in poverty, quality education can be a luxury families simply can’t afford. Through education programs in Asia, Opportunity's local partners are invested in helping parents keep their kids in school and improving learning and school quality. Although government schools are often low-cost or free, many suffer from overcrowding, underfunding, chronic teacher absenteeism and lack suitable infrastructure…
Read MoreNur's fish business feeding her family
How selling fish helps Nur earn a reliable income Nur and her husband monitor the weather closely. If the weather is good, they know fish will be plentiful, and they get to the fish markets around 5am to buy fish for their stall. If the weather is bad and they know fish will be scarce, they’re there at 2am to pick up some of the catch. They sell grilled and fresh fish at their roadside stall in Kupang, Indonesia, that they opened with a small loan of IDR 2 million (A$200). As long as there is fish…
Read MoreEducation - An investment that lasts a lifetime
Today, 24 January, marks the United Nations International Day of Education. Through our work with trusted local partners, Opportunity International Australia helps empower more young learners through providing school fee loans and education quality programs in Asia. Education sets a strong foundation for more peaceful, just and sustainable societies. On this International Day of Education, Opportunity has launched the 2024 Back to School appeal, asking supporters to help keep children in school…
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