17 August 2016, Sydney, Australia — Opportunity International Australia said World Entrepreneurs’ Day on 21 August puts the spotlight on the way a small loan can transform the lives of mothers living in poverty by enabling them to start a small business and start their families’ journey out of poverty.

Opportunity Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dunn, said: “Mothers from the poorest parts of the world are undertaking innovative entrepreneurial endeavours, using small loans to start a business."

"For a family in a developing country who can’t afford the basics, a gift as small as $70 can be life changing."

"With a hand up from a generous Australian through Opportunity, mothers can put food on the table, send their children to school and transform their families’ futures for generations."

According to Allan English, Silver Chef Limited’s Founder and Executive Chairman and an Opportunity supporter: “The concept of funding entrepreneurs— in particular women in developing countries—is showing that the profits being generated from the individual businesses are going back into supporting the family and educating children."

"There is this extraordinary generational effect of not only helping female entrepreneurs to be able to stand up and say, ‘I paid off my first loan and now I want a second one; I did this on my own’, but also the children are now getting educated and their self-belief is much higher."

"It’s about giving people a hand up, not a handout. It’s that cultural aspect of allowing people to achieve success in their own right,” he exclaimed.

“All start-ups face similar issues such as limited access to capital,” commented Rob Dunn. “A small loan in combination with creativity, perseverance, determination and skills can enable a woman living in poverty to kick start a business, just as Australian entrepreneurs borrow money or access venture capital to get their business off the ground."

"We hope that World Entrepreneurs' Day will build awareness of the inspiring entrepreneurs in developing countries and that Australia’s entrepreneurs will come together to invest in them,” he added.

To invest in a mother living in poverty click here.