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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.

Ripples and Waves: 4 Steps to Becoming an Agent of Change

by Rabia Siddique

Over the years, I’ve developed personal insight and self-awareness as I’ve struggled through the many challenges that have crossed my path. I’ve found my voice. Although it is difficult, we must all be prepared to confront the realities in our lives and the world around us because unless we do so we can’t address and overcome aspects of our lives that don’t serve us well. We must also be prepared to challenge and change our narrative about ourselves, others and our place in the community…

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Empowering Women in Developing Countries to Navigate Gender Inequality

by Karen Kandur

Returning to full-time work following the birth of my daughter has reinforced for me the similarities between Australian mothers and mothers in developing countries - our common aspiration to give our children the best possible future but equally the challenges of being a working mum. While the issues may play out differently in Australia and in developing countries because of economic, social and cultural differences, they are still the same – lack of gender equality and juggling family and work…

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The Gift of Holding (the) Space

by Kirstin Bouse

Can you recall a time when you shared your excitement about the new ‘love of your life’ with your best friend and they listened completely and intently? Mirroring without conscious thought, your dizzy excitement and hope. Can you remember a time when you sat with a friend who was in deep distress, crying a river of tears as they grieved the loss of someone close to them? And as they sobbed and rambled you were ‘in the moment’. And you just sat with them without expectation or distraction?…

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4 Steps to Achieving Your Dreams

by Suzzanne Laidlaw

\"Words can inspire, thoughts can provoke, but only action truly brings you closer to your dreams.\" Brad Sugars, Founder of ActionCOACH While we can talk about our dreams endlessly, only the simple act of doing will bring us closer to achieving them. With a razor-sharp vision, a strong plan and the motivation to take charge of our time, taking small steps will help us to realise our dreams. But how can we gain the clarity and focus needed to break down big dreams into small actions? One approach…

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Easter is the season of hope

by Emily Nicola

Even though it happens every year, the arrival of autumn is always a little surprising. Almost as if on a switch, one day you feel it - a subtle crispness in the air and before you know it, it's hot-crossed everything everywhere. As kids, my sister and I used to long for Easter Sunday, because that was when all our cousins came around and we got to go on our annual Easter Egg hunt. The tradition involved being forced to stay in the lounge room, whilst sneaking peeks through the curtains as the grown-ups…

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The end of poverty demands the end of violence

by Hannah Norling - My Choices Foundation

Similarly to the analogy that you cannot expect a starving child to study well, we cannot expect women facing violence and exploitation to make full use of financial empowerment. Modern analysis of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and of human rights affirm control over bodily safety as basic human necessity and right. It is a requisite of human advancement. Sandhya’s Story In 2015, Sandhya was much more than a wife and mother of two beautiful girls. She was also the manager of her family’s kirana…

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#beboldforchange this International Women's Day

by Patricia McGee

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with everything that’s going on in the world right now. I think it’s fair to say that we are living in a pretty strange period of time, a time which undoubtedly will be studied in text books, and my grandchildren will be stunned that I lived through such an era. Each headline I read is more outrageous than the next, and with the bombardment of abhorrent news that plagues our media, it’s easy to lose sight of what is really important. Sometimes we just need…

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Empowerment through microfinance loans

by Kieran Johnson

Empowerment is key to helping families free themselves from poverty. Recently I spoke to a woman from America about her visit to Africa. It was her first visit and she spent a few months there, yet one of her most memorable moments was when she travelled through the local farming areas. She saw many tractors sitting idle in the field not being used and upon closer inspection she saw that each of them had a USAID logo stamped on them. Tens of thousands of dollars had been spent to source, ship and…

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Valentine's Day

by Patricia McGee

Valentine’s Day can be a tough time of year for many. For some, it’s a day to cherish the one you love; a day to appreciate your significant other and spoil them with all the supermarket chocolates and flowers that money can buy. For others, it’s a timely reminder that you haven’t yet found ‘the one’ and although these chocolates say ‘share pack,’ today, these chocolates are for one. For those who are spending today alone, you may be on the cusp of giving up; accepting the fact that…

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Australia Day

by Patricia McGee

I can’t help but love this time of year. It’s a time full of excitement and new beginnings. The air is warm, the days are long, and you cannot ignore the communal sense of thankfulness and joy that still lingers from Christmas (or the public holidays that come with Christmas). January 26 is Australia Day. It is a day that has different meanings for many Australians but one thing for certain is that without generous support from Aussies like you, the work of Opportunity would not be possible.…

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