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.
Gender-based violence: "The Shadow Pandemic"
In India, the National Commission for Women reported a rise of 94 per cent in complaint cases where women have been abused in their homes during lockdown. © Kim Landy For every three months of lockdown due to COVID-19, an estimated 15 million people—mostly women and girls—have suffered from gender-based violence, globally. Since the start of the pandemic, multiple international agencies and national activists have raised a red flag about the increase in gender-based violence (GBV). “The…
Read MoreIndependent study shows the success of EduFinance loans across the globe
Students at a school in Nagpur, India. With the assistance of School Improvement Loans, schools can buy textbooks, build toilet blocks, purchase materials, and invest in teacher salaries. © Kim Landy A recent study conducted by the University of Chicago’s Center for RISC in partnership with Opportunity, shows the importance of Opportunity’s EduFinance Program to improve educational outcomes for children. “This is the first evidence we have that the EduFinance program is not only increasing…
Read MoreTurning tempeh into opportunity
Asria started her own business making and selling tempeh. The income helps her pay for her children's school fees. © Sarah Gray The importance of education can be seen through Asria's story. Each day Asria rises in the early hours of the morning to prepare tempeh. She boils, peels and dries soybeans before mixing them with yeast. It’s a valuable skill she learnt from her older sister. Before Asria started her tempeh business, she worked in the paddy fields as a rice grinder – tough, physical…
Read MoreWhy are you so passionate about Opportunity?
2020 has been a tumultuous year. While the entire world has been touched by COVID-19, those living in poverty have been disproportionately affected and will need significant time and help to recover. We asked our Board why they’re so passionate about Opportunity and why Opportunity is well placed to help so many come through the COVID-19 pandemic. “I believe in the power of helping women to help themselves.” - Susan Overall Q: Why are you so passionate about Opportunity? Joanna White: I’ve…
Read MoreClosing the gender gap
Women earn less, own less and learn less than men. For women living in poverty, their ability to save and borrow is further limited. So how can microfinance help close the gender gap and improve lives? Who are the unbanked? According to the World Bank, a person is financially included if they have “access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs, transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance.” Globally, about 1.7 billion people remain unbanked…
Read MoreHeni grows a better life
Heni (middle) with her husband and son Yardi at their community garden. © Sarah Gray Each day Heni carefully tends to her garden where she grows an assortment of fruits, vegetables and her son’s favourite, dragon fruit. It’s a job that she takes great pride in. \"We take care of the plants… we plant the onions and wait for them to grow, and we water them. That is what we do every day,” Heni said. For many families living on Rote Island, Indonesia, farming and fishing are their main…
Read MoreFor the love of entrepreneurs
Allan and Tessa English have been Opportunity supporters for 20 years. Allan is the founder of SilverChef*, a company that provides hospitality equipment finance. Opportunity’s Veronika Peters talked with Allan about the state of the world, his journey as an entrepreneur and his passion to empower other entrepreneurs. Veronika Peters: How has isolation changed your day-to-day life? ALLAN ENGLISH: My diary has shifted from a lot of ‘doing’ to ‘being.’ I am enjoying the change of pace…
Read MoreEverything you need to know about period poverty
Health leader Poonam gives a talk about menstrual hygiene to a group of women in a village in Bihar, India. © Matthew Smeal More than 800 million people menstruate daily. It’s a normal and healthy part of life for most women and girls. But for a woman living in poverty, her period can be a source of stress and shame. In addition to meeting her family’s daily needs—food, water, shelter and education—she must find a way to access enough pads or tampons each month. Period poverty comes in…
Read MoreMeet Mark Daniels
Mark Daniels, Opportunity International Australia's Asia Programs Director. After years of working as an accountant, Mark Daniels was in search of something different. So he did what many young Australians do: backpacked around Asia. It was there that Mark first learnt about microenterprise development—helping small business owners who lack access to mainstream financial services—and realised he could use his skills to help others. Today, Mark Daniels, Opportunity International Australia’s…
Read MoreLife in lockdown
Above: A girl is taught how to wash her hands by a Community Health Leader, Uttar Pradesh, India. © Matthew Smeal The COVID-19 lockdown for 1.3 billion people in India posed a very different situation than lockdown in Australia. Jessica Carter, Opportunity International Australia’s Asia Health Program Director—based in Hyderabad, India—explains. “What I noticed first was the sound,” Jessica Carter said. “India is famous for its cacophony of noises—truck horns, the cries of door-to-door…
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