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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.

End Poverty? It's Possible

by William Cupido

“That’s impossible!” If you listen close enough you can probably hear these words echoing right now – a chant that’s been replayed since beginning of time. But despite the disbelief, man has walked on the moon, a portable handheld device has been developed that allows instant communication with anyone in the world and even an Oscar has been awarded to Leonardo di Caprio. But what about empowering the hundreds of millions of people who are currently living in poverty? What about uniting…

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Hot Off The Press: Opportunity Magazine Spring 2016

by Robert Dunn

Controversial author Christopher Hitchens once said: “The cure for poverty has a name, in fact, it’s called the empowerment of women.” This issue of Opportunity Magazine starts with the empowerment of a mother from Indonesia – Lydia. Her family is on the pathway out of poverty thanks to a hand up from someone like you. Read about our recent film trip to capture her inspiring story on page 4. We also had the privilege of meeting with Stephanie Rice recently to hear about her Olympic experiences,…

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Who's Who In The World Of Microfinance?

by Stephanie Hristovska

By now you may have read the powerful impact stories of Opportunity loan recipients like Marince, Panchratni and Remy – women who’ve all received a hand up out of poverty through small loans to start their own businesses. But who’s who in the wider microfinance sector? And how does Opportunity work collaboratively with other organisations to transform the lives of families living in poverty? Let’s meet some of them… Microfinance CEOs Working Group The Opportunity International Network is…

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The International Poverty Line

by Jamie-Leigh Hecht

Last year the World Bank adjusted the International Poverty Line from US$1.25 to US$1.90 per day. This shift occurred due to the need for our definition of poverty to reflect changes over time in the goods that people need to buy to stay out of poverty, and changes in what those goods cost. But why a move from US$1.25 to US$1.90? Let’s go a little deeper… The International Poverty Line has been defined according to an assessment of purchasing patterns and costs in 15 of the poorest countries…

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Hot Off The Press: Opportunity Magazine Winter 2016

by Opportunity International

As I read the story of Emi, who’s pictured on the cover standing tall despite her home burning down, I think about all the people who’ve lost their homes in many a fire and flood in Australia or overseas. As a nation we band together and give financially or volunteer – anything to help those affected rebuild their lives. Everyone plays their part. In this issue of Opportunity Magazine, I encourage you to play your part in helping families in poverty start again. You can begin…

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Annual Review 2015

by Robert Dunn

In a small village one hour outside of Jakarta, Indonesia, a young mother stood in front of a shop crying because of hunger. With two children by her side, she begged the shop owner to give them some food. When my children started crying, I became even more upset. I wondered, ‘How could life be so unfair?’ Today this mother and her children are not crying anymore – they’re smiling. Pictured on the cover of our 2015 Annual Review, Dewi and her daughter Nabila share a moment of joy and relief…

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The Evolution of Microfinance

by Jamie-Leigh Hecht

Since its rise in the late 20th century, microfinance has grown exponentially in its ability to reach and empower people living in poverty to transform their lives. Over 3,300 microfinance institutions reached 211 million people with a small loan by the end of 2013. 114 million of these clients were among the poorest when they took their first loan. 83 percent of these poorest clients were women. But where did it all begin and how did we get to where we are today? Microcredit can actually be traced…

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What Does It Mean To Lose Everything?

by Benjamin Freeman

Emi is a mother from Indonesia who recently lost her home, business and belongings in a fire. After her husband passed away, Emi started a small kiosk, selling items like rice and soap to people in her village, located a couple of hours outside of Soe in Indonesia. From the kiosk she was able to earn just enough to feed her children and put a roof over their heads. That was until the fire. When it struck, Emi’s youngest daughter Betrik was inside. Aged just 8, little Betrik is deaf and mute, so…

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Why Help A Mother?

by Marie Laurie

A core pillar of Opportunity International Australia’s work is to invest in mothers through small loans so they can start businesses, earn incomes and leave poverty behind. Currently, 94% of loans are given to women, providing them with an opportunity to gain financial independence. The motivation behind this is that women living in poverty are more likely to be excluded from formal financial services. Furthermore, women are more likely to invest their income back into their children, family and…

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Why We Microfinance? To impact generations

by Anitha Thiraviarajah

This April is the Month of Microfinance and here at Opportunity we are delighted to celebrate the power behind it! Ever since I was little, when watching TV or listening to the radio, I had always been exposed to media campaigns from charities where the call to action was donating money to a cause. As a result, it led me to believe that people were poor because they didn’t have money. Although a lack of income does play a part in poverty, I have come to understand that it is not solely a matter…

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