Three days trekking in the Himalayas. Two days in Varanasi meeting inspiring women building businesses to improve their livelihoods. Seven unforgettable days in India.

For the second year in a row, the Trek for Opportunity in 2024 was a success with five passionate Opportunity International Australia supporters travelling to India for a life-changing experience, all while raising much-needed funds for families living in poverty. 

An adventure and fundraising challenge, all in one

The Trek for Opportunity was a wonderful chance for supporters to personally achieve a life goal as well as meeting some of the women supported by Opportunity’s programs in India. 

Through fundraising efforts, including matching from corporate partners and lots of creativity, over $40,000 was raised by this year’s trekkers. That’s enough to help 250 families with a small loan to build a business and leave poverty behind - an incredible result! 

The seven-day adventure started in Darjeeling on 18 October, where the team were driven to Dhotrey for the start of the trek. That first day they trekked just over three kilometres to Tonglu, which would be their base camp for the next two nights. Each day the group would rise early, have breakfast then begin their daily adventure.

Rather than a linear trek to a destination, they explored the surrounding mountains each day, returning to their camp each night for a well-earned rest. The final day of trekking ended in Chitrey, where they enjoyed lunch before heading back to Darjeeling and then a train ride to Varanasi. 

I have loved the trek. It’s been great scenery, to get out and see this off-the-beaten track part has been really special.”

Seeing the impact of their fundraising firsthand

In Varanasi, the group had the opportunity to meet some of the families supported by Opportunity through our local partners. Meeting the women and hearing their stories of hardship, and ultimately hope, put everything the trekkers had experienced into perspective. 

The team met and heard from Suggi, a mother of five daughters, who was forced out of her in-laws’ home as she hadn’t produced a son. Suggi, along with her husband and children, found themselves with no home and not enough money to feed her family. They moved to another town where Suggi set up a small grocery shop, but the hard times didn’t end there. The shop was broken into and robbed, and she lost everything.  

Then Suggi heard about Opportunity’s microfinance partner Cashpor, who offered her a small loan to help her start again. Suggi started making and selling pani puri, an Indian fried snack food, and her business began thriving. She has since been able to buy a house for her family to live in and send her daughters to school. 

Thank you to Team Opportunity - Franca, Peter, Kate, Tamara and Bec - who joined the Trek for Opportunity and went above and beyond to raise money and help hundreds of women like Suggi. You’re all an inspiration! 

There's still time to support Team Opportunity if you'd like to donate to the team's fundraising page.