Donate Give Monthly

Menu

Donate Give Monthly

Email SignUp

Stay connected and receive updates from Opportunity International Australia.

Follow Us

Search

PO Box A524
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.

Adventure in the Himalayas on the Trek for Opportunity 2023

by Opportunity International Australia

In October 2023, a group of passionate Opportunity International Australia supporters travelled to India for the Trek for Opportunity, a ten-day experience to help end global poverty. As well as hiking from Darjeeling to Sandakphu and back again, along mountain peaks and through the majestic Eastern Himalayas, the experience gave participants the opportunity to see the impact of microfinance firsthand. Here's how it all unfolded...  If you'd like to learn more or register for this year's adventure,…

Read More

Forging a stronger future for her children

by Opportunity International Australia

Thirty-three-year-old Dia has big dreams for her four children, and they can aspire to a better future too, thanks to Dia and her husband’s hard work and a boost from a small loan. When Dia heard that Opportunity’s local partner Bina Artha Ventura (BAV) opened a new branch inthe nearby town of Tugumulyo she saw an opportunity to expand their family’s business. Dia lives with her family in a rural area of Sumatra, Indonesia. Her husband Alimin is a blacksmith, making equipment for agricultural…

Read More

Life for Madina is better thanks to a buffalo loan

by Opportunity International Australia

Madina is a married mother of three and is now running a successful buffalo milk business thanks to a Buffaloan from Opportunity International Australia’s local partner in India. Her family live on farmland, growing rice and other crops for their own use and selling some, but their income was low. Her husband and eldest two sons work in nearby factories, but the family struggled financially. Madina hopes income earned from her buffalo will help with her children's future. With a small loan, Madina…

Read More

Proud to be helping her community

by Opportunity International Australia

Pramila, a 46-year-old mother of three, is a self-made woman. As a child, Pramila dreamed of becoming a nurse. “I experienced the shortage of medical services and doctors in my own community in Patna in northeast India, leading to maternal deaths,” Pramila said. She wanted to do something to help. The youngest of five siblings, Pramila’s father encouraged all of his children to study, regardless of gender. Whilst still attending school, Pramila was married at age 16, which was the norm in her…

Read More

Supanti’s children continue to learn with a loan

by Opportunity International Australia

For Supanti, a hardworking mother in Central Java, Indonesia, a school fee loan is enabling her three children to go to school. Supanti sells fruits and vegetables for a living, while her husband, Trianto, works as a driver. Their income pays for the family’s daily needs – things like food and household needs. Like many families just making ends meet, the idea of having a large lump sum for school fees to pay at the start of each year seemed near impossible. There simply was not enough money.…

Read More

Growing seaweed to support the family

by Opportunity International Australia

On the remote island of Rote in Indonesia, the options for employment are limited. Aranci, a married mother of five children, and her husband Abraham struggled financially. They couldn’t afford meat, milk or even rice. Heartbreakingly, they also had to pull two of their children out of school before they graduated primary school. Determined to change things for their family, Aranci started growing seaweed in the waters near her home. Seaweed is a sustainable product that Aranci sells locally to…

Read More

David Bussau reflects on his Opportunity journey

by Opportunity International Australia

At 83 years old, David Bussau AM, founder of Opportunity International Australia, is still as passionate as ever about microfinance being part of the solution to ending poverty. David became one of the pioneers of microfinance when he offered a loan to a farmer in Indonesia named Ketut, who purchased a sewing machine, and with his wife started a tailoring business. This was the beginning of what grew to become Opportunity International Australia today. David recently shared his reflections on the…

Read More

Strong bond helps couple run successful business

by Opportunity International Australia

Anjeeta and her husband Vinubhai run a successful snack stall and tailoring business in the Gujarat region in India. The couple, who both have mobility issues, are a wonderful success story, thanks to a loan from one of Opportunity International Australia’s local partners. “With my first loan I bought a sewing machine and slowly I started sewing and making some money to support my family,” said Anjeeta. \"Then we took the second loan to start our corner shop.” Anjeeta feels a real sense of…

Read More

Investing in women this International Women’s Day

by Opportunity International Australia

On 8 March the world marks International Women’s Day, a celebration of the achievements of women globally. In 2024, it’s also a rally behind the call to 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress.' Since Opportunity’s origins in the 1970s, financially including women has been key to breaking the cycle of poverty – and today, 95 per cent of Opportunity’s loan clients are women. To achieve gender equality, an investment in women and girls is vital at all levels – whether it’s providing decent…

Read More

Keeping girls like Yumna in school

by Opportunity International Australia

Education is one of the most effective tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. However, for children living in poverty, quality education can be a luxury families simply can’t afford. Through education programs in Asia, Opportunity's local partners are invested in helping parents keep their kids in school and improving learning and school quality. Although government schools are often low-cost or free, many suffer from overcrowding, underfunding, chronic teacher absenteeism and lack suitable infrastructure…

Read More

Filters

Subscribe to the Blog

Subscribe to receive Opportunity International microfinance news and updates via email or RSS.

Subscribe via RSS

Stay in Touch