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Sydney South NSW 1235, Level 11, 227 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000

Telephone: 1800 812 164

© 2026 Opportunity International AustraliaABN 83 003 805 043

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.

Top tips for fundraising to help end poverty

by Opportunity International Australia

The fight against poverty knows no boundaries, but everyday Australians can play a big role in creating positive change. Whether you’re looking to start a charity fundraiser from scratch, or have an existing event you’d like to partner with Opportunity International Australia on, you're already on the path to making a significant impact for women and girls globally. To help create lasting change globally, the best (and easiest!) fundraisers use your existing skills, resources and ideas to make…

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Coffee cart creating change

by Opportunity International Australia

Lis is a 42-year-old widow, and a mother to two boys, aged 20 and 16, living in the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia. Five years ago, she quit her job and started her own mobile coffee business, on the back of a motorbike. Lis sells coffee, other beverages and fried food to her local community. She begins her day at 6.30am, selling drinks and food until 4.00pm. In 2019, Lis received a small loan through Opportunity’s local partner in Indonesia to expand her business. She was able to purchase more products…

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Supporting business-owners this World Entrepreneurs' Day

by Opportunity International Australia

This World Entrepreneurs' Day, Opportunity International Australia is celebrating the ingenuity of those around the globe disrupting traditional markets, developing a product or service, and turning their ideas into a business. While there’s so much to celebrate in Australia, and there are an estimated 582 million entrepreneurs around the world, there are millions of entrepreneurs living in poverty in developing countries. Opportunity International Australia works with female entrepreneurs in Asia,…

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Creating a brighter future with bangles

by Opportunity International Australia

Bihar, where mother of four Darmshila and her family live, is one of the poorer states in India. Fifty-two per cent of people in the state are ‘multidimensionally poor’ – the highest rate in India. Four out of every 10 people suffer from malnutrition, even more in rural areas. The village where Darmshila lives still doesn’t have adequate sanitation. “There were lots of challenges before we got the loan,” Darmshila said. “We had a lot of expenses, but now life is better.” These days,…

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Hiking the Himalayas for Opportunity

by Opportunity International Australia

Leanne Seymour is one of the participants heading to Northern India in October 2023 to Trek for Opportunity. Leanne will be joined a group of passionate supporters who will be trekking the Eastern Himalayas as part of a 10-day trip to raise money for Opportunity International Australia. When asked why she signed up for the adventure, Leanne had this to say: “There were so many reasons to take advantage of this incredible opportunity that was being offered. However, the three that stand out to me…

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Women entrepreneurs inspire ambassador Ginger

by Opportunity International Australia

Ginger Mahoney is a 20-year-old university student and part-time paralegal at a criminal law firm. She is studying a double degree in Commerce and Law at Macquarie University and is passionate about women supporting women in business globally, which led to her becoming an Opportunity International Australia Ambassador. “I was first introduced to Opportunity when I was 15 years old through my aunt who worked for a major corporate sponsor of Opportunity at the time,” said Ginger.  “I felt inspired…

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Health program improving lives in Bangladesh

by Opportunity International Australia

The Health Leader program in Bangladesh is providing life-saving health education to women and their families in rural parts of the country where access to healthcare is limited. Many women are benefiting from receiving basic knowledge about sanitation, women’s health, menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth. Here are some of the stories of the women in Bangladesh whose lives are being transformed thanks to participation in the Health Leader program. Ansara Health Leader Bithy (left) educating young…

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Hope in the midst of poverty

by Scott Walters

Most of the field visits I have taken so far in India have been spent in rural areas where almost 90 per cent of people who live below the poverty line reside. However, being confronted with urban poverty on this recent trip stopped me in my tracks. It’s easy to assume that everyone’s okay in a big city. There’s infrastructure, there’s public transport, a seat of government, but what I saw in Delhi was often hidden. It was urban poverty, which was no less confronting and challenging than…

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Small loans help Aplonia get through hard times

by Opportunity International Australia

Aplonia, aged in her late 50s, lives in Kupang, Indonesia. She is married to Stefanus and they have six children. Life is difficult for most people in Kupang, but for Aplonia and her family, it has been particularly tough. Stefanus had a stroke a few years ago, and although he did recover, he is unable to work. The long-lasting effects of the stroke on his health are difficult to manage, so Aplonia became the sole breadwinner in the family. She took out a loan with one of Opportunity International…

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Neighbours journeying out of poverty

by Opportunity International Australia

Manti, a mother of six girls, is one of the millions of women Opportunity supports with a small loan. Manti and her family live in Bihar, the third most populous state in India, where more than a third of the population live below the poverty line.  According to UNICEF, children in Bihar face many challenges owing to widespread poverty, deep-rooted socio-cultural and gender inequalities, caste divisions, poor infrastructure, lack of basic services and recurring natural disasters.  Manti’s family…

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