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

Telephone: 1800 812 164

© 2025 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.

Building more climate resilient communities

by Opportunity International Australia

Climate change and poverty are closely interlinked. To protect livelihoods, and build more resilient communities, Opportunity International Australia is working with our health and microfinance partners to understand how climate change is impacting the communities we serve and developing products and programs to meet those needs. The growing challenge of climate Climate change threatens to exacerbate poverty and inequality globally. Women and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected…

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Putting an end to period poverty

by Opportunity International Australia

Rags. Sawdust. Leaves. Grass and paper. These are not items most of us would immediately associate with a woman’s menstrual cycle. In some areas of countries such as India and Bangladesh, those are the makeshift items many women and girls are using to manage their period every month. With menstruation starting on average at 12 years old and lasting until around 51, that is a likely 39 years or 468 months of a woman’s life using items that can cause infection every month. Period poverty refers…

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Deepening our work in disability inclusion

by Opportunity International Australia

As Opportunity International Australia strengthens its commitment to supporting more women from marginalised communities globally, we are excited to announce the appointment of Fifi Rashando to the Executive Committee of the Australian Disability and Development Consortium (ADDC). Fifi re-joined Opportunity in August 2024 as the GEDSI (Gender Equity Disability & Social Inclusion) and Safeguarding Manager and works closely with our Programs team and local partners to strengthen our work in financial…

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Here’s to the entrepreneurs!

by Opportunity International Australia

Led by our local partners, your support helps provide small loans to over 6 million entrepreneurs in Asia — including some incredibly resilient and hard-working women in Indonesia. This helps them build their businesses, earn regular incomes and create a future for their families. Here are some of the women globally that have been supported with a small loan and their stories…  Desriana (Weaving traditional batiks and textiles)   Desriana lives in Rote, Indonesia, and has been weaving since…

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Trekking Kokoda for Opportunity

by Opportunity International Australia

Long-time Opportunity International Australia supporter and ambassador Jeff Robson recently took on the harrowing challenge of trekking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea to raise money for women and families living in poverty. Jeff has been an Opportunity supporter for more than 20 years, and as an ambassador has helped raise the profile of the organisation, as well as funds. “As a business owner, I loved the idea of a hand-up, rather than a hand-out and also love the fact that the funds are…

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Maternal healthcare saving lives in Bangladesh

by Opportunity International Australia

Like most first-time parents, Monzila and her husband were excited to be having a baby. But giving birth at home without a midwife or doctor, the situation became dangerous. She and her husband hadn’t been taught what to do during pregnancy or labour. Monzila did not have regular check-ups throughout her pregnancy, and no plan was in place for the delivery. Her family also had a misbelief that if an expectant mother ate too much it would cause complications for the baby. So Monzila was malnourished…

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Razia’s booming buffalo business

by Opportunity International Australia

Razia and her husband Gulab live in rural Gujarat, India, and have three adult children, as well as grandchildren. The couple worked in farming jobs and were not paid well. Life was tough and due to the lack of decent work in their village, often one of them would have to go away for three days at a time to work to seek better options. Razia and her husband Gulab in their home in rural Gujarat, India They worked on others’ lands for wages, where they felt like they were at the mercy of the wealthier…

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TransformHER women’s event series launched

by Opportunity International Australia

In September, Opportunity International Australia launched a new initiative to connect with our network of incredible women, and men invested in women, to learn about purpose, leadership and women’s empowerment. Titled TransformHER, the series kicked off with an online event with guest speaker Peta Taylor from The Karuna Collective giving her insights and tips on how to unlock your potential and find joy and purpose in your work. Hosted by Nicole Clements, Head of Marketing and Communications at…

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Valued partnerships and small loans – a solid foundation for ending poverty

by Opportunity International Australia

No man is an island. More can be achieved when you join forces and work together. Opportunity International Australia partners with local microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India and Indonesia, investing in capital to provide small loans to their clients – with 95 per cent of these loans going to women. A landmark study has proven for the third year in a row, that small loans received by women living in poverty in Asia are a practical and sustainable solution for financial independence. The impact…

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Investing in girls and opportunity

by Opportunity International Australia

October 11 marks International Day of the Girl Child, with the theme of 2024 being Girls’ vision for the future, focusing on the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future. As the world deals with challenges of poverty, climate, and conflict, along with ongoing fights for human rights and gender equality, girls today are disproportionately affected. But despite this, girls globally are still growing up with vision, hope and voices…

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