I am privileged to meet with or speak to Opportunity supporters on a daily basis. Unsurprisingly, each person has a different motivation for investing in mothers and their families through Opportunity, yet they share one thing in common: a desire to help shape the wellbeing of generations to come.

That’s why I love the potential of a gift left in a will to Opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. A decision made today to allocate a percentage of one’s estate powerfully changes the futures of mothers, their families and communities.

It’s the reason why my wife Cathy and I have included Opportunity in our wills and it’s the same reason why Philippa and Andrew Tyndale, long-term partners with Opportunity, have done the same:

We’ve spent many years working in partnership with Opportunity International Australia, seeing it grow from a small pioneer to a leader in microfinance. We love how it provides a real and sustainable way for poor entrepreneurs to work their way out of poverty. It’s important to us that the legacy we leave continues well after us. Our children have been part of our engagement and one aspect of our legacy is to provide them with an avenue to continue to engage in building up poor communities. We can think of no better, more enriching long-term gift to leave them.

Shyam, a mother-of-five from India, is one such mother whose future changed with a small loan. Previously, Shyam earned just $1.10 a day, which wasn’t enough to provide for her children’s daily needs. Her eldest son had to drop out of school because she couldn’t afford to pay the fees.

Today, Shyam and her family’s future looks much brighter:

I used a loan to buy a sewing machine and now, with my income, my children can continue their studies, I can give them clothes and food which I couldn’t before. I am also training 10 other women in sewing so they can earn an income, too.

If you are considering leaving a gift in your will to help families in need, thank you. You can request a helpful guide to including Opportunity in your will by contacting me at bequests@opportunity.org.au or 0422 939 200. Or simply click here to read more information on our bequests program.

Please make sure you seek qualified legal advice to ensure that you achieve all you wish for your family and others through your will. If you have already made a provision for Opportunity please also let us know so we can acknowledge the important decision you have made.

At Opportunity International Australia, Ant Clark is Manager, Southern States and also coordinates our impactful bequests program.