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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.

Supporting families in crisis as COVID-19 surges amongst Indonesia’s children

by Opportunity International Australia

Child death rates in Indonesia continue to grow due to COVID-19 - with one in eight youth affected by the country’s worst outbreak so far, according to the Indonesian Pediatric Society. COVID-19 death rates in Indonesian children are among the highest in the world. In late July, the Indonesian Pediatric Society reported more than 360,000 confirmed cases in children, with more than a 100 dying each week. Many of them are younger than five. Children with disabilities are most at risk from COVID-19,…

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Opportunity pushes forward with early recovery efforts to protect millions of vulnerable Indians from COVID-19

by Opportunity International Australia

India COVID-19 relief efforts: Impact update As India records more than 400,000 COVID-19 deaths, Opportunity International Australia has scaled up early recovery efforts in vulnerable hotspots. Opportunity has been supporting the poorest in India for the past 13 years, helping more than five million families work their way out of poverty through small businesses supported by small loans. We’re providing help and education about COVID-19 safety and preparedness to the most vulnerable. Tackling rampant,…

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Indonesia’s most vulnerable hit hardest by deadly COVID-19 Delta surge

by Opportunity International Australia

The livelihoods of millions of vulnerable Indonesians are being decimated by a catastrophic COVID-19 Delta outbreak. Indonesia is dealing with more than 20,000 COVID-19 Delta cases a day. Hospitals are overwhelmed, causing mass oxygen shortages and price hikes. The influx of new cases contributes to Southeast Asia’s worst outbreak on record, which continues to devastate India and neighbouring countries. The Indonesian Government has introduced emergency measures, with lockdowns in Bali and Java.…

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WATCH: Amina's Story

by Opportunity International Australia

A small loan helped Amina's mother break the cycle of poverty in her family. It enabled her to think about life beyond their next meal, to secure her daughters' educations, and to see a path into the future. The dreams Amina had as a child have now become reality. Watch her family's touching story below:

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The quiet satisfaction of giving

by Opportunity International Australia

When retired medical specialist and founding Opportunity Ambassador, Dr Ian Airey OAM, was reflecting on philanthropy and considering which causes to support, he developed a philosophy that has guided 20 years of giving. Veronika Peters: How did philanthropy start for you? Ian Airey: My mother had a view on the importance of having a charitable outlook. I think that was the foundation, and there is a gospel imperative. Philanthropy is part of what makes us human and it’s part of living a rich life.…

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Getting girls back to school

by Opportunity International Australia

Of the children whose schooling was interrupted by COVID-19, it’s emerging that girls are among the hardest hit. Of those who haven’t returned in Pakistan, 60 per cent are girls. Last year Opportunity assessed the impact of COVID-19 on education in Pakistan. We surveyed 1,188 parents, 362 owners of non-state affordable schools and 252 teachers. “The most concerning finding was the disparity between parents’ attitude to sending girls back to school (31 per cent) compared to boys (94 per cent)…

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Holding a light to the pandemic's dark side

by Opportunity International Australia

An immediate rise in reports of domestic violence and human trafficking since lockdowns in India has meant swift innovation in the way we protect girls and women. Early in the pandemic, the rates of gender-based violence and human trafficking shot up sharply around the world. In India, where gender-based violence was already prevalent, reports of domestic violence more than doubled in a six-month period from the start of lockdowns, according to the National Commission for Women. While lockdowns have…

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Farewell Meredith Scott from the Opportunity team

by Opportunity International Australia

In July 2021, we farewell our Chief Executive Officer, Meredith Scott, and thank her for her immense contribution to Opportunity International Australia and families living in poverty over the past three years. Meredith Scott - a woman for others Meredith joined Opportunity in March 2018 after a long-standing career at EY. Described by staff as ‘a woman of grit, anchored in grace’ she used her decades of experience in accounting and auditing to bring new levels of accountability and governance…

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Pivoting in the pandemic: how small businesses are surviving

by Opportunity International Australia

In a year that has been punishing for business owners around the world, it’s those living in poverty whose livelihoods are most affected by illness, lockdowns, travel restrictions, and forced closures. For our microfinance clients in India and Indonesia, 2021 continues to be an extraordinarily challenging year. Yet, in the face of some of the most crippling challenges of our lifetimes, stories are emerging of incredible resilience, resourcefulness, creativity and determination. Your support ensures…

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Emergency relief for India’s COVID-19 second wave

by Opportunity International Australia

We are working to provide support in last-mile health delivery and emergency relief. The second wave of COVID-19 in India has had a horrifying impact and this, sadly, is mirrored by the stories from Opportunity’s implementing and microfinance partners. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are largely social businesses, providing access to capital and livelihoods to a predominantly low-income female client base. Through the COVID-19 crisis, it has become apparent that there is a tremendous and underutilised…

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