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

Telephone: 1800 812 164

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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.

Through the looking glass: How economics influenced my perspective on poverty alleviation

by Carolyn Hewson

During my first year at university I quickly discovered that economics gave me a framework for thinking about a multitude of issues facing us in Australia and globally and for understanding many facets of our behaviour. Economics has the capacity to test multiple variables in the interest of achieving optimal, final objectives - not just financial but also broader societal objectives. Early on in my career in the corporate sector, I developed a passion for the not-for-profit sector, working with…

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Social Selling for Social Change is changing the world – one woman at a time

by Melissa Haupt

I believe that when women are empowered, so are their families, their communities and the world. That’s why our mission to empower women and girls out of poverty is at the heart of what we do at Lily Anne Family Brands. Before I conceived the company name, which means pure blessing, I coined the phrase: ‘Social Selling for Social Change’ and decided to embed this concept into the fabric and culture of the business from day one. It was important for the social impact we were out to create to…

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Hope is universal

by Peter Cadwallader

When I reflect on the meaning of hope my first thought is the Christian context of hope – that God is with us all the time. By having Faith in Jesus when one dies, one has eternal life. That’s hope. Before one gets to the eternal part of life, I think hope is important in the living part of life. In countries like Australia we have an expectation, which goes beyond hope, that we will continue to have a good life. We take for granted where our next meal is coming from or being able to access medical…

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Inspiring new futures for Indonesian families living in poverty

by Simon Lynch

Families living in poverty are extremely vulnerable, and so building a safety net is a top priority for them. For want of a few dollars things can go horribly wrong so they need to develop a stable income to provide a home, nutritious food, schooling and medicines for their children. Opportunity International Australia provides small loans to hundreds of thousands of families In Indonesia to build businesses, which range from food and handicraft stalls, to producing goblets from recycled cans and…

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You can change perceptions by doing the unexpected

by Marie Kelly-Davies

I heard Michael Kasprowicz, a former fast bowler for the Australian Cricket Team and Opportunity International Australia Council member, speaking this week at a lunch about perceptions and how you can change them by doing the unexpected. He was so inspiring! We all know that your image and the way you are perceived by others influences their behaviour towards you. But how do you shift someone’s perception of you towards your reality? Michael says that making a small change can shift others' perception…

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Breaking the cycle of poverty - one small loan at a time

by Marie Kelly-Davies

People often ask me: “What is poverty?” Is the face of poverty the 767 million people around the world who live on less than US$1.90 a day? Or is it much more than a low income? Poverty means you have limited access to your basic needs, such as nutritious food, clean water, healthcare and education. You are also more likely to experience hunger and poor sanitation and develop preventable illnesses, diminishing your capacity to work. As this cycle repeats itself, it is clear to see why families…

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Empowering women in Asia to be businesswomen and health leaders

by Robert Dunn

Seema Bharti is easily one of the most impressive women you’ll ever meet. Seema is one of the women Opportunity International Australia supporters helped to set up a business with a small loan and receive training as a health leader. Many families in Seema’s village in India live below the poverty line and preventable diseases are a major problem. As with many communities near the River Ganges, the groundwater is contaminated with arsenic, which slowly poisons people. Typhoid and tuberculosis…

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Our choices can have a powerful impact on the lives of others

by Hon Kristina Keneally

Last week the federal budget froze foreign aid funding, prompting a debate in some circles about what kind of society we are when we limit our support to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Others point out that foreign aid is an important tool in combatting terrorism and supporting peace and democracy abroad. The world is a scary place these days. Inequality is increasing, even as more people are being lifted out of poverty. Upheaval is evident in the results of Brexit and the 2016 American…

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Mother's Day

by Dani Stapleton

Growing up, Mother’s Day usually consisted of making my mum breakfast in bed and proudly presenting her with some animal creation made out of clay or Paddlepop sticks that bared a striking resemblance to some sort of natural disaster. My mum would always smile, hug and thank me as she knew that amongst these small acts, was a loving appreciation for everything she had done for me. As I have become older, not only have my gift choices for Mum changed, but also my understanding of what this day means.…

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Empowering Women in Developing Countries to be Businesswomen

by Joanna White

The United Nations recently noted that, globally, women account for 2/3 of all working hours, yet despite this they take home only 10 per cent of all global income. This doesn’t surprise me at all. And it’s particularly relevant in developing countries. In many developing countries women’s work is undervalued and many women don’t have opportunities to work outside of the home because of a lack of formal education and cultural and social norms. That’s why I love the work Opportunity International…

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