Opportunity International Australia says World Entrepreneurs'  Day on Wednesday 21 August is a day to celebrate the  tremendous ingenuity, resourcefulness and  resilience of the millions of entrepreneurs in developing countries and across Australia, who  are taking action to end poverty  globally.  

Opportunity was started in the 1970s by one of Australia’s most innovative social entrepreneurs David Bussau, who was also a pioneer in microfinance globally when he gave a small loan of $50 to an Indonesian rice farmer. 

“In the very early days of Opportunity International I was often referred to as a capitalist pig, because I dared to suggest that we could use wealth creation and market discipline as an effective tool for poverty alleviation,” said David Bussau.

^{Opportunity International Australia Founder, David Bussau, is one of the pioneers of microfinance.}

Today David’s passion for using the tools of business and capitalism for good is being handed down the generations, with Year 8 students from four schools in Melbourne taking it up with gusto, participating in the Opportunity Challenge.

Recently, the ‘wanna be’ young entrepreneurs took part in an epic challenge, to use $10 in ‘seed capital’ to create a business, develop a marketing plan and raise money for Opportunity’s programs. Hosted by Camberwell Grammar School, students sold baked treats, ran karaoke competitions and many other wonderful creative businesses. The funds raised will provide 25 loans to women and communities experiencing poverty in Asia.

Troy Stanley, Head of Middle School at Camberwell Grammar School said, “The purpose of the Opportunity Challenge is three-fold. It’s about connecting, it allows the students to socialise, mixing the girls and boys from different schools and working together; secondly the entrepreneurial skills they learn from the project, and thirdly the driving force is raising money for Opportunity.”

^{Students take part in the Opportunity Challenge in Melbourne}

Small loans, create massive change

Opportunity Chief Executive Officer, Scott Walters says:  "The World Bank tells us that  more than 700 million people live on less than US $3.65 a day - that’s not enough to buy life's necessities,  educate  children and  pay for health services and medicine when a  family member falls ill. "

“While we may be experiencing a cost-of-living crisis in Australia, the situation can be even worse for those women and families experiencing extreme poverty globally,” said Scott Walters.

“It's unacceptable that in 2024 so many women and families in developing countries lack access to the basics the  Western world take  for  granted,” said Mr Walters.

^{CEO Scott Walters meets Desriana, an Indonesian entrepreneur who started a weaving business.}

Imagine the Opportunity?

This is why Opportunity, by providing microfinance loans, is equipping 6.6 million  entrepreneurs in Asia  to build businesses, earn regular incomes  and create a future for their families.

Those challenges range from a lack of community infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and schools, exposure to extreme weather conditions; even inefficient transport for raw materials and finished goods.

Opportunity microfinance partner portfolio repayment rate is an amazing 98 per cent. This ensures that funds can be recycled after the loan is repaid, and the impact of our initial investment can create future opportunities.

If you would like to find out more about Opportunity’s work or donate different — equipping families and communities to end poverty through entrepreneurship and enterprise, please donate today.

Don’t fight poverty. End it.