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	<title>Opportunity News</title>
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		<title><![CDATA[Made in Rwanda Leadership Summit Follow Up]]></title>
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Made in Rwanda Leadership Summit
KIGALI, RWANDA February 22, 2012 &ndash; A select group of 120 Rwandan business leaders and 15 Canadians gathered on February 15th, 2012 at the beautiful Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss the ambitious plan that is being implemented to raise the people out of Rwanda and to transform the country into a middle-income economy, with a strong emphasis given to innovation and entrepreneurism.The &ldquo;Made in Rwanda&rdquo; Leadership Summit was hosted by Opportunity International Canada and The Wellspring Foundation for Education. The Summit proved to be an innovative think tank centered on the themes of leadership and the development of human capital.
Highlights of the day included a ground breaking announcement from Rwandan entrepreneur and coffee expert Arthur Karuletwa who, just 23 hours before speaking at the Leadership Summit, came to an agreement with Starbucks Coffee Company for the purchase of GeoCertify. GeoCertify is a pioneer in food traceability. Launched in 2007 to support Rwandan coffee farmers, GeoCertify provides full-scale solutions for the most complex and remote supply chains in the world. For consumers, this will offer new meaning to the phrase &ldquo;know your farmer, know your food.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been fortunate to know Arthur for a few years now and to see him share in front of fellow Rwandan business leaders was inspiring,&rdquo; said event co- organizer and Wellspring Executive Director Richard Taylor. &ldquo;In a country that is desperate for Rwandan role models in the business sector it was powerful to have one of Rwanda&rsquo;s own share and spur on the next generation of leaders.&rdquo;
Other speakers included Canadian Bob Lawless, retired CEO &amp; Chairman of McCormick &amp; Company, a global leader in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of spices who is currently serving as CEO &amp; Chairman of Opportunity International Canada. Mr. Lawless asserted that human capital is the only capital and reminded the audience that they have the potential to become the business leaders that they aspire to be. Carter Crockett from Karisimbi Business Partners followed with an insider&rsquo;s perspective on what it will take to grow Rwanda&rsquo;s management capacity. Finally, Senior Agricultural Advisor for Opportunity International John Magnay looked at how we can unlock human capacity in Africa&rsquo;s rural areas to move subsistence farmers to healthy vibrant cooperatives developing a strong business model in the agricultural sector.
&ldquo;Rwanda is looking optimistically to the future, there is still a very raw pain that exists, but rather than holding back, the people of Rwanda are moving forward with new hope and determination.&rdquo; Doris Olafsen, Executive Vice President of Opportunity International Canada and co-host for the Summit, said &ldquo;the Summit accomplished what we had hoped. It connected the international community with the local entrepreneurs which provided a balanced perspective for what is possible by investing in their number one asset&mdash;human capital. Our vision in launching the Summit was that future events such as this would be coordinated in-country and that we might be invited back as guests, truly making the Leadership Summit a &ldquo;Made in Rwanda&rdquo; initiative.&rdquo;
The Summit was hosted by Opportunity International Canada and The Wellspring Foundation for Education and with the support of the Stronger Together 2011 collaborative granting initiative of nine foundations and individuals in Canada who combined forces to invest in the strategic growth of nonprofit partnerships in Canada. Sponsors in Rwanda included the Development Board, Bridge2Rwanda, Private Sector Federation, Rwanda-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda and Karisimbi Business Partners. Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast sent his personal greetings and endorsement to participants as well. Learn more about the Summit, watch the speaker videos, and read more about the organizations involved at www.madeinrwanda.ca/summit.
About Opportunity International Canada
Founded in 1971, Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over 2.5 million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit us at opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation at facebook.com/opportunitycan.
About The Wellspring Foundation
The Wellspring Foundation for Education is a Christian organization working with Rwandans to empower a new generation of leaders through education that transforms lives. We believe education is a nation&rsquo;s greatest resource and teachers are most essential to maximizing that resource and work to help them gain the creativity, principles, and capability necessary to positively impact their own communities and adapt to a changing world.&nbsp; Wellspring has established one of Rwanda&rsquo;s best schools, trained nearly 600 teachers, improved 47 public schools, and supported a grassroots Association of Committed Teachers (ACT) to spread throughout the Country.&nbsp; Learn more at thewellspringfoundation.com or facebook.com/wellspringfoundation.
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Media Contacts
Brady JosephsonNational Director, Marketing &amp; Communicationsbjosephson@opportunityinternational.ca778-384-7044]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[CEO Bob Lawless Commits Two More Years]]></title>
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Robert J. Lawless commits to serving as CEO &amp; Board Chair for two years
Toronto, Ontario, January, 26, 2011 &ndash; Opportunity International Canada is pleased to announce that interim CEO &amp; Board Chair Robert (Bob) J. Lawless, retired CEO &amp; Board Chair of McCormick &amp; Co., has accepted an appointment to serve for an additional two years.
Mr. Lawless&rsquo;s combination of business acumen and his personal philanthropic passion make him a perfect fit to lead Opportunity International Canada, and the organization is already feeling the effects of having a strong leader at the helm. Mr. Lawless has distinguished himself throughout his career as an outstanding international business leader and has helped build a world-class service organization with operations in 100 countries around the world and fiscal year revenues of nearly $3 billion.
Mr. Lawless has the ability to calmly manage through challenges while inspiring others.
&ldquo;If you do tomorrow what you did today, you&rsquo;ll be called competitive, but if each and every day you look at doing something different tomorrow then you did today, you&rsquo;ll be called the best,&rdquo; says Lawless. &ldquo;It is an exciting time at Opportunity; our staff is energized and executing at a very high level with tremendous confidence in the future. We are on our way, good things are happening, challenges are before us that make us better every day.&rdquo;
About Opportunity International Canada
Opportunity International provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to over 2.5 million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. Opportunity International Canada is a registered Canadian charity and serves all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visitus at opportunityinternational.ca or join the conversation at facebook.com/opportunitycan.
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Media Contacts
Brady JosephsonNational Director, Marketing &amp; Communicationsbjosephson@opportunityinternational.ca778-384-7044]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Made in Rwanda Leadership Summit]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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Made in Rwanda Leadership Summit
Canadian based non-profit organizations spearhead one day leadership summit for Rwandan business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs.
VANCOUVER, BC&nbsp; January 26, 2012 &ndash; More than 150 delegates from Canada and Rwanda, including international thought and business leaders, will gather in Kigali, Rwanda for the inaugural Made in Rwanda Leadership Summit. The Summit is an innovative think tank centered on the themes of leadership and the development of human capital organized by Opportunity International Canada and The Wellspring Foundation for Education.
Opportunity Canada and Wellspring, Canadian based international nonprofit organizations, worked in cooperation with the Rwandan Development Board, Bridge2Rwanda, Private Sector Federation, Rwanda-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda and Karisimbi Business Partners to make the event happen. All of these organizations are unified in the goal of the Summit, which is to develop and propose solutions to a wide range of pressing issues and challenges by empowering and engaging the talent of Rwandans while connecting them to businesses and organizations, locally and globally.
The Summit will feature keynote speakers including Bob Lawless, current Opportunity International Canada Board Chair &amp; CEO who spent over 10 years as the Chairman and CEO of McCormick &amp; Company Inc, Arthur Karuletwa, Director of Geocertify at Starbucks Coffee Company, Carter Crockett from Karisimbi Business Partners and John Magnay, Agro Business Expert for Opportunity International.
&ldquo;Rwanda has come a long ways since the 1994 genocide&rdquo;, Wellspring Executive Director Richard Taylor states, &ldquo;and this is largely due to strong and focused leadership and an emphasis on developing the human capital within its borders. This Summit and trip is about highlighting these successes, learning from one another and helping Rwanda meet its bold Vision 2020 goals over the next decade.&rdquo;
This visionary trip has been made possible with funding from Stronger Together 2011, a collaborative granting initiative of nine foundations and individuals in Canada who combined forces to invest in the strategic growth of nonprofit partnerships. &ldquo;Stronger Together is a fitting funder for the Summit and term for what we believe about international development,&rdquo; Opportunity International Canada Executive Vice President Doris Olafsen said. &ldquo;This event focuses on the power and potential of human capital and what might be possible by harnessing the potential of partnership across the various sectors of business, education, government and the for-profit and NGO worlds.&rdquo;
You can follow the trip, get more details on the leadership summit and learn more about each of the organizations involved at www.madeinrwanda.ca/summit.
About Opportunity International Canada
Founded in 1971, Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over 2.5 million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit us at opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation at facebook.com/opportunitycan.
About The Wellspring Foundation
The Wellspring Foundation for Education is a Christian organization working with Rwandans to empower a new generation of leaders through education that transforms lives. We believe education is a nation&rsquo;s greatest resource and teachers are most essential to maximizing that resource and work to help them gain the creativity, principles, and capability necessary to positively impact their own communities and adapt to a changing world.&nbsp; Wellspring has established one of Rwanda&rsquo;s best schools, trained nearly 600 teachers, improved 47 public schools, and supported a grassroots Association of Committed Teachers (ACT) to spread throughout the Country.&nbsp; Learn more at thewellspringfoundation.com or facebook.com/wellspringfoundation.
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Media Contacts
Brady JosephsonNational Director, Marketing &amp; Communicationsbjosephson@opportunityinternational.ca778-384-7044]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Day for Opportunity]]></title>
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Day for Opportunity
iSO Canada staff work a day donating their pay to Opportunity International Canada

CALGARY, AB., Nov. 17, 2011: On this date, an estimated 100 employees of national flooring company iSo Canada will be voluntarily working the whole day for no pay.
For exactly zero dollars, on November 17, iSO management, office staff, flooring installers, some suppliers and even some iSO customers will spend the proverbial 8 hours working to put cash in someone else's pocket.
But not just any pocket. The team at iSO are going to give their pay to the poor in Soledad, Colombia.
Earlier this year, iSO Canada decided to become a business with a broader bottom line. As well as increasing their own profits, they decided to work towards increasing the profits of small, impoverished businesses in the developing world - by partnering with Opportunity International Canada.
iSO committed $150,000 to the Villages of Opportunity program and will help fund the microfinance programs in Soledad, Colombia, where nearly half a million people eke out a living with many having been displaced and force to flee conflict in other parts of the country.
After a team meeting, iSO staff came up with the idea of a "Day for Opportunity", giving staff the chance to connect with the poor in ways other than just through their cheque-books.
"We wanted to involve everyone associated with our company to try and raise some funds and awareness of what Opportunity International is doing,&rdquo; explains iSO Executive Chairman Paul Verhoeff. &ldquo;We also wanted to have fun! The Day For Opportunity is a great way to focus the energy of the company.&rdquo;
Which begs the question: how &ldquo;fun&rdquo; can it be working for the whole day for no pay?
&ldquo;We believe in giving back to our community, and our community is the whole world, really,&rdquo; says Verhoeff. &ldquo;So we wanted to try to lead by example, and share with everyone associated with us the joy of giving.&rdquo;
Verhoeff hopes iSO staff in 15 branches across Canada, including large branches in Cambridge, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Scarborough, Vancouver and Calgary will participate in the event.
&ldquo;We have asked everyone to get involved and are hoping everyone can give up one day of their year for the poor,&rdquo; says Verhoeff. &ldquo;Of course, we are not making anyone participate, and it&rsquo;s our first year doing this, but it&rsquo;s a start!&rdquo;
Company management have committed to matching whatever staff and suppliers raise.
&ldquo;We also hope that this can be something that&rsquo;s contagious and that other businesses can jump on the Day For Opportunity,&rdquo; says Verhoeff.
"This is a fantastic idea, and a very physical way of experiencing how hard the poor work, and how little they really get in dollar terms for all their effort,&rdquo; says Opportunity International Canada Executive Vice President Doris Olafsen, who, inspired by iSO&rsquo;s commitment, is also donating her pay for the day.
&ldquo;I am moved by what iSO is doing both here in Canada and through their efforts, in Colombia among the marginalized,&rdquo; says Olafsen. &ldquo;It feels like a small sacrifice for me to give up one day of pay, too, to help change the lives of some hard working people in the developing world forever."
The Day For Opportunity kicks off with a breakfast, and then a wine and cheese celebration for staff, sponsors, suppliers, clients and friends at iSO headquarters in Calgary at 3:30pm.
If you are motivated and want to be involved in this inaugural Day For Opportunity go to opportunityinternational.ca/dayforopportunity or call 1-877-867-2448.
About Opportunity International 
Founded in 1971, Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over 2.5 million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit us at opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation at facebook.com/opportunitycan.
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		<title><![CDATA[Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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Do What You Can - With What You Have - Where You Are
Canadians UnDo Poverty with blogs, tees and gears
TORONTO, ON., Nov. 8, 2011 &ndash; Alone, any one of us, no matter how inspired, will never &ldquo;end&rdquo; poverty. But we can each take up a thread dangling in front of us and un-do that little bit. Poverty, like a fractured tapestry, needs to not be ended, but &ldquo;un-done&rdquo;.
This Fall, several motivated Canadians took up some threads. Not so much with &lsquo;blood, sweat and tears&rsquo; but blogs, tees and gears.
First, there were the Rides.
On Vancouver Island, Rita Roorda and her husband Rick organized a &ldquo;Ride the Ridge&rdquo; event. Twelve riders raised their sweat equity and over $4,000 for those trapped in poverty in and around the community of Fundacion, Colombia.
Across the country in Waterloo Ontario, Opportunity Governor Shane Pegg also found a way to combine his love of biking with his heart for the poor, riding for Opportunity International Canada in the &ldquo;Ride for Refuge&rdquo;. Through that event, Pegg raised over $1,000.
Then there was the golf.
In Manitoba, long-term Opportunity partner D&eacute;cor Cabinets staged their annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament, selecting Opportunity International Canada to share in the $58,000 raised.
In Toronto, DUCA Financial Services Credit Union held their first ever charity golf tournament raising $30,000 for Opportunity&rsquo;s microfinance clients in Cartegena, Colombia.
Not to be outdone, the Young Ambassadors for Opportunity&nbsp; a community of students and professionals aged 18-35 in London, Ontario, raised over $8,000 for ongoing work in Colombia through their golf tournament, the London Opportunity International Open.
Neither a biker or a golfer, Kristin Briard is instead using her networks to UnDo Poverty. Briard has created a personal fundraising page on OpportunityCan.ca, aiming to raise $1,000 and a whole lot of awareness for Opportunity International Canada.
&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t necessarily have to break your back to help UnDo poverty,&rdquo; said Opportunity International Canada President and CEO Bob Lawless.
&ldquo;All these groups and individuals have demonstrated we each simply need to take what is in front of us, the hobbies we enjoy, the skills we possess, the networks we move in, and find ways to use them in the service of the marginalized. Every single bit makes a difference. It helps unravel another small piece of the tangled thread of poverty.&rdquo;
About Opportunity International 
Founded in 1971, Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over 2.5 million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit us at opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation at facebook.com/opportunitycan.
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Read More...

Networking to UnDo Poverty
Riding for Relief
Golf Tournaments Raise Over $40,000]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[The MasterCard Foundation Recognized with Award]]></title>
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Opportunity International&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s Opportunity Network Recognizes The Mastercard Foundation With Its Annual Leadership Award
President &amp; CEO Reeta Roy accepts the award on behalf of the Foundation, and highlights the power of women entrepreneurs during Opportunity&rsquo;s annual conference, &ldquo;Innovating to End Poverty&rdquo;
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2011 - Opportunity International&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s Opportunity Network (WON) today presented The MasterCard Foundation with the 2011 International Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award at its annual conference, &ldquo;Innovating to End Poverty,&rdquo; being held Oct. 14-15, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport.&nbsp;
This year, WON chose to honor The MasterCard Foundation for its role in supporting and inspiring global women entrepreneurs. By increasing access to microfinance and youth education in developing countries, the Foundation helps women realize their potential and lift themselves out of poverty. Through its partnership with the Foundation, Opportunity International is leveraging technology and innovation to enable rural women and farmer families in sub-Saharan Africa to access life-changing financial tools.
&ldquo;The MasterCard Foundation&rsquo;s belief that everyone has the potential to transform their lives and improve the lives of their families and communities is especially empowering for women in the developing world,&rdquo; said Ruth-Anne Renaud, Vice President, Women&rsquo;s Philanthropy, Opportunity International US. &ldquo;A woman with access to savings, loans and other financial services can feed her children nutritious meals, send them to school, pay for their medicine, and employ her neighbors in her business.&rdquo;
Accepting the award on behalf of The MasterCard Foundation was President and CEO Reeta Roy. &ldquo;It is a great honor to accept the International Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award from the Women&rsquo;s Opportunity Network,&rdquo; said Roy. &ldquo;We are proud of our partnership with Opportunity International and commitment to empower women in developing countries with the financial tools they need to become financial decision-makers within their families and to contribute to their communities.&rdquo;
Following the presentation of the award, Roy spoke to attendees gathered at the Opportunity International Conference, &ldquo;Innovating to End Poverty,&rdquo; highlighting the foundation&rsquo;s efforts to create partnerships that advance effective and innovative programs in the areas of microfinance and youth education. Through a series of keynotes and breakout sessions led by technologists, business and development leaders, and philanthropists, the conference is exploring how a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship led to breakthroughs in Silicon Valley, and how the same culture is changing the way the world community is fighting poverty.
About the Women&rsquo;s Opportunity Network
The Women&rsquo;s Opportunity Network (WON) is a dynamic network of women supporters and staff committed to helping Opportunity International reduce poverty in the developing world.&nbsp; WON&rsquo;s mission is to invest in the lives of women around the world, giving them access to financial tools and training that transform their lives, their children&rsquo;s lives and their communities.
WON&rsquo;s annual awards recognize leaders who are making a dramatic impact on the lives of women around the world. Past honorees have included Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia; Dina Powell, global head of corporate engagement for Goldman Sachs, on behalf of the company&rsquo;s 10,000 Women initiative; and Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author.
About Opportunity International Canada
Opportunity International provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to over two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. Opportunity International Canada is a registered Canadian charity and serves all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender. For more information, contact us at info@opportunityinternational.ca or 1-877-864-2448, visit opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
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		<title><![CDATA[Opportunity International Canada Announces New CEO]]></title>
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Opportunity International Canada Announces Appointment of Robert J. Lawless as CEO
Retired McCormick &amp; Co. Chairman &amp; CEO appointed to new leadership role
Toronto, ON (August 16, 2011) &mdash; Opportunity International Canada today announced that Paula A. Curtis will no longer be serving as president and CEO and provided details of its plan for leadership succession. Robert J. (Bob) Lawless, recently appointed Chair of the Board of Directors, has been appointed President and CEO.
Lawless, in a statement to Opportunity International staff stated, &ldquo;Paula has served OIC with tremendous passion and distinction since her arrival in February 2009 and in that time, she has made a significant contribution to the promotion and support of the organization and our mission to provide opportunities to transform the lives of people in chronic poverty.&rdquo;
Lawless retired as Chairman &amp; CEO at McCormick &amp; Co. in 2009, this concluded a 30 year career as an active McCormick employee in which he brought a boundless energy to each goal he pursued. A transformational leader, Bob helped solidify the company as an industry leader and a global company on the move. &ldquo;I believe in the work of Opportunity International. I have spent time with Opportunity staff and clients around the world. I have even had the thrill of meeting Carlos Moreno, Opportunity International&rsquo;s first loan client&mdash;a spice-trader.&rdquo; Lawless&nbsp;said. &ldquo;At McCormick, managers learned to innovate, take risks, and make tough decisions while working on actual company products and services. Could that help explain why, after 100 years in business, the spice and flavouring company is still innovating?&rdquo; Lawless sees that same innovation happening at Opportunity International and that is inspiring. &ldquo;The significance of meeting Carlos Moreno on my first trip to Colombia may well have foreshadowed the significant partnership our family now has with Opportunity. It was meant to be.&rdquo;
David Stiller, Founding Chair, Founding Chair Emeritus at Opportunity International Canada, states, &ldquo;Bob has a remarkable track record of accomplishments as an entrepreneur, senior executive and servant leader. We are confident that Bob&rsquo;s ability to rally a team behind a mission, focus its efforts and reach its goals will bring even more people to the cause of Opportunity International.&rdquo;
Doris Olafsen, Executive VP, Grace Loney, CFO &amp;VP Finance and Administration and Jannalee Anderson, National Director Philanthropy, have been appointed as the Executive Team and will assist Bob through the transition.
About Opportunity International Canada
Opportunity International provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to over two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. Opportunity International Canada is a registered Canadian charity and serves all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender. For more information, contact us at info@opportunityinternational.ca or 1-877-864-2448, visit opportunityinternational.ca and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
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More

Download the PDF press release
Read Bob's full bio]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[3 Girls go "Plaid for People" in Developing World]]></title>
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Plaid for People
Three girls, one shirt, one pair of shoes, one-hundred days, twenty-five hundred dollars, seventeen women, eighty-five lives. What does this mean? Nothing to most of us, but when those three girls are Abby, Bethany, and Chrissy it means a lot more. These three Junior High girls decided to wear one shirt and one pair of shoes for one-hundred days to raise over twenty-five hundred dollars! And for what? To do something that could help seventeen women and their families in the developing world improve their lives.
"After reading &lsquo;Do Hard Things&rsquo; by Alex and Brett Harris we were inspired to make a difference. We really wanted to do something, anything really," Bethany said, "so after some research we decided to raise money for Opportunity International. We wanted to do something useful with our teen years. We wanted to change lives." And so they did by starting the "Plaid For People&rdquo; campaign.
The project started on November 1, 2011 and will come to an end on February 8, 2012. On their story page on OpportunityCan, an online platform where people can share their story, raise funds and invite others to end poverty and transform lives, they said:

We are wearing one shirt and one pair of shoes for 100 days. The shirt represent the very small amount of clothing that people in poverty have compared to us, and the shoes represent that 50% of the world (300 million of them being children) do not have shoes, and even if they do, they only have one pair.
By doing this we're trying to place ourselves in their shoes, literally. We will be going around door-to-door in our neighbor-hoods raising money, holding events at our Church and anything else that we can to meet our goal.

And they did. They fundraised at their Church, Craft Fairs, Ten Thousand Villages, and a little bit in their neighbour-hoods. Arlene, Abby's mom, said, "The three girls have astonished us with their dream to change world poverty through sacrifice and wearing one shirt and one pair of shoes for one hundred days to both experience simplicity and to raise awareness for Opportunity International.&ldquo; She went on to say, &ldquo;As a parent of one of the girls, I was skeptical. So I chose to sit back and &lsquo;just see&rsquo; if they could actually raise money this way. But all their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence has inspired many in our community! I've had to, fortunately, rearrange my thinking about teenagers and not put a lid on their dreams and abilities."
So why on earth would three Junior High girls want to do something like this? When we asked why they responded with, "For the glory of God."
To learn more about the Plaid for People project, leave comments or make a donation, visit plaidforpeople.opportunitycan.ca. 
NOTE: The 17 women helped was calculated by taking the $2,500 raised and dividing it by the average loan size to first time clients of $142. For every one loan, it is our estimate that 4-6 others (children, relatives, employees, etc.) are impacted. Therefore the 85 lives impacted was calculated by taking the number of potential loans, 17, multiplied by 5, average number of others impacted. Funds that are generously raised and donated to Opportunity International are used to provide financial services, including loans, savings, insurance and training, to people trapped in poverty who can benefit from them.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Road Map to Responsible Microfinance]]></title>
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Opportunity International is one of eight microfinance organizations that have coordinated to produce a "Road Map for the Microfinance Industry: Focusing on Responsible and Client-Centered Microfinance". The group, called the Microfinance CEO Working Group, is a collaborative effort by the CEOs of a number of microfinance organizations. Some members include ACCION, FINCA, Freedom from Hunger, Grameen Foundation USA, Opportunity International, Pro Mujer, VisionFund International and Women's World Banking.
The Center for Financial Inclusion, serving as the secretariat for the group, in its post on their blog wrote: "The Road Map outlines the Working Group members&rsquo; vision for the positive evolution of the microfinance field and underscores their commitment to raising industry standards, starting with their own. Central to this vision is the Working Group&rsquo;s support for three initiatives that are laying the groundwork for a more responsible, client-focused and transformative industry: the Smart Campaign, MicroFinance Transparency, and the Social Performance Task Force&rsquo;s universal standards for social performance management."
You can read the full "Road Map" from the Center of Financial Inclusion here and read their original post here.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[YAO a Finalist in Community Revival Contest]]></title>
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Opportunity International's Young Ambassadors for Opportunity is a finalist in the Joey's Restaurants Community Revival Project. The national contest asks for communities/groups to submit applications, the finalists and their application are then placed online and put to a public vote with the winner receiving $15,000 in funding. Go here to learn more and vote today.


How To Vote


Go to this page: http://eclub.joeysonline.ca/RevivalProject2011.htm


Under "I want to vote for" scroll to the very bottom and select "Young Ambassadors for Opportunity"


Fill in the required forms


Click submit entry


About YAO and The Community Revival Project
Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) is a community of young professionals and students (aged 18-35) who have decided to DO SOMETHING to support microfinance.&nbsp;Since its inception, YAO has grown across Canada a national network &ndash; which includes two official City Chapters (Toronto and London) and three Campus Chapters (Dalhousie, McGill, University of Western Ontario). The movement has sparked significant leadership in Toronto; made up of a small but mighty group of leaders with significant potential having raised over $15,000 since February 2011.
Our goal is to take this spark and nurture it into a roaring wildfire of passion that will spread across Canada as a model for other chapters. First we need to focus on building a strong leadership team that will be the key influencers for YAO&rsquo;s growth locally, nationally and internationally. As these young leaders take on volunteer positions that require significant time and energy commitments, we would like to be able to support them by creating training and support materials to allow them to realize their dreams for influencing others to join them in making a difference globally.
Funding would provide resources and staff leaders who will mentor and empower the next generation across Canada by further developing the YAO Toronto chapter as a scalable model on how to raise awareness and raise funds for the work of Opportunity International globally. The specific goal will be to grow YAO Toronto network from 200 to 1,000 contacts, and move from 3 key leaders to a core team of at least 10 fully engaged leaders. We will also develop educational forms, workshops, social media and online tools and strategies all focused to engage the next generation across the city for the purpose of inspiring, educating and engaging their communities to be transformational catalysts in the fight against poverty.
By nurturing their passion and philanthropic hearts, those that will engage with YAO will not only be raising money that will be used to transform the lives of Opportunity clients globally, but they and their communities will be transformed. YAO members and their communities they influence will see those living in poverty, not as &rdquo;the poor&rdquo; but as hardworking people that just need the opportunity to work themselves out of poverty with hope and dignity.
Please consider supporting this initiative with the potential to engage thousands of young Canadians and impact hundreds of thousands of lives in developing countries. Help us back the Game Changers!]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Ghana Visit by HRH The Princess Royal]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of Opportunity International UK, looked inside a mobile bank which does vital work reaching marginalized communities in Accra,&nbsp; Ghana.&nbsp; HRH The Princess Royal saw firsthand how a mobile bank operates, witnessed financial training and interacted with Opportunity clients and heard their stories.
HRH The Princess Royal and her husband Admiral Laurence were welcomed by Maria Koramoa (Board Member), Kwame Owusu-Boateng (Chief Relationship Officer) and Kofi Obeng-Berkyaw (Chief Operations Officer) from Opportunity Ghana.&nbsp; Maria escorted them to meet Opportunity clients who were in a financial education training session lead by their relationship officer Mavis Bosorotsi.&nbsp; Mavis explained what was involved in the free financial literacy training being given to her clients to help them acquire the necessary skills to manage their businesses.
HRH was given a tour of the nearby mobile bank by Jonathan Cato, Head of Banking Operations, during a busy time when some clients were carrying out transactions such as cash withdrawals and deposits.&nbsp; HRH heard about how the mobile bank works and met the mobile bank staff.&nbsp; Two clients then shared their testimonies with HRH about the benefits of the training and the progress of their businesses.

View more pictures on Facebook
Learn more about Opportunity Ghana]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Update on Flooding in Colombia]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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The following was an internal email to Opportunity International Canada staff about the recent floods in Colombia. We wanted to share this update with you and ask you to join with us in keeping all of those affected by the flooding in Colombia in our thoughts and prayers.
Hi Team,
Please pray this week for our clients and staff who are already dealing with winter flooding in Colombia. It looks like the rains will again be worsened by the El Ni&ntilde;o Effect this year.
There have been heavy rains in the Cartagena area, affecting 20 neighbourhoods in the city (over 500 families). Heavy downpour began Monday afternoon and didn&rsquo;t lighten up for 24 hours. One of our loan officers in Cartagena who lives near on the edge of a swamp area has been badly affected, and clients&rsquo; homes have been affected. She has had to leave her house for now. There are four other staff members who live in high risk areas.
Furthermore, there have been landslides in the neighbourhood of San Francisco, Cartagena (where some of our clients live and the Youth Program participants meet). Over the last two months there were over 2,000 people relocated, and now the flooding has destroyed some of the houses that had remained standing after the landslides. Some of our clients were forced to leave because their houses were destroyed, and others live in houses of partial rubble because there is nowhere for them to go. As usual, the poor live in the marginalized geographic areas and are the most susceptible to the effects of natural disasters. One Loan Officer, Iris, has lost three trust groups because so many of the members have been displaced into temporary housing elsewhere. The government provides living accommodations for the most desperate for one month, and after that they are on their own. The floods and landslides not only destroy homes and businesses, but they also shatter communities apart in the time when these people need their community the most.
The towns surrounding Cartagena have not been as badly affected; however the people of Gambote, near Arjona, are afraid of what might be to come considering they live along a river that forced nearly everyone to leave their homes last winter.
The Magdalena River which runs through Fundacion (further north) has also overflowed its banks, blocking the roads that our rural loan officers need to take to get to the office once a week (Pivijay, where half of the officers work, is 2-3 hours by dirt road from Fundacion). It has also stalled transport on the roads between Fundacion, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, which may come to hinder commerce.
Video of the Flooding in Cartagena from a local news report (Spanish website):http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/cartagena/invierno-en-la-costa-caribe_10589965-4
Thanks for your prayers everyone,
Kelsey MartinProgram Officer, Latin America

Opportunity International Canada and its partners are in the midst of securing and distributing some immediate short term relief funds to alleviate the burden on Opportunity Colombia staff and clients. Opportunity staff will continue to monitor the situation and flooding to ensure the safety of our staff and clients first and foremost. Please join us in continuing to pray for those affected by the floods.
UPDATE: As of October 26, just over $10,000 has been raised and wired to Opportunity Colombia to aid in the immediate relief of staff and clients affected by the floods in collaboration with other organizations working in Colombia. Thank you for your support, thoughts and prayers.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Transforming Lives Beyond the Client]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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When Calgarian Kim Asman visited Colombia she suspected the trip would have some impact, but she didn't expect the dramatic changes it would have on her life.   In January 2010, Kim and 9 other women traveled to Colombia to see microfinance in action.&nbsp;The group of professional women had formed to focus on their spiritual development and to connect with others that shared a similar desire to give back to the world.&nbsp;Some of the women had heard about microfinance and how it was being used as a tool for alleviating poverty, and after much consideration agreed to take part in an Insight Trip through Opportunity International, an international organization that provides a range of microfinance services and training to over 2 million people in the developing world.&nbsp;   According to Doris Olafsen, Executive Vice President for Opportunity International Canada, &ldquo;Insight Trips provide an chance for Canadians to walk in the shoes of those who are living the life of a microentrepreneur and lets them see firsthand how empowering people brings dignity, confidence and commitment to life.&rdquo;   On her 20+ Insight Trips with over 250 people, Olafsen has witnessed many transformations amongst the visiting participants, &ldquo;Nearly every person comes back from their trip with, at minimum, a new view of the world and a desire to take action.&rdquo;   Kim Asman was no exception.&nbsp;&ldquo;I had expected to see hopelessness and desperation in the face of such poverty,&rdquo; says Kim, &ldquo;but instead I saw hope, laughter, dreams for the future and a fullness of life that is not quite present back home.&rdquo;   Upon returning home, Kim said she was filled with a burning passion to do something and to change her own life.&nbsp;She wanted to get back to the same basic values she saw evident in many of the families in Colombia.&nbsp;So, in June 2010, Kim left her lucrative16-year career in the oil and gas industry.&nbsp;No longer did the fast-paced, high-stress world of business fit her newfound worldview.   &ldquo;At first my family was shocked, but they were very supportive.&nbsp;My co-workers joked that I would be back to work in just a few months,&rdquo; says Kim.&nbsp;&ldquo;I had been very committed to my career for so long that it was hard for people to believe this change would last.&rdquo;   Over a year later, there is no looking back for Kim.&nbsp;She admits she does miss parts of her previous life including the social aspect with co-workers, but the benefits she receives from spending time with her family and advocating for microfinance outweigh everything else.&nbsp;   Kim and the 9 other women formed a group called Amigos de Colombia &ndash; or Friends of Colombia upon their return to Canada.&nbsp;Their sole purpose was to raise $150,000 over three years to support a village in Colombia through microfinance.&nbsp;In less than 8 months the group raised $125,000 and is well ahead of their three-year target.&nbsp;   Through her work for Amigos de Colombia and as a member of Opportunity's Governor's Council, Kim continues to raise awareness of microfinance and work on behalf of people living in poverty.&nbsp;She is planning to visit Colombia again in 2012 along with her husband.&nbsp;
This story was written by Barb Biggs and originally appeared on the Rotary Action Group for Microcredit website leading up to the Microcredit Conference in Calgary. Read the original post/story here.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Microfinance Helping End Famines in Africa]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

// 

A recent article in The Globe and Mail titled "The Horn of Africa's Last Famine?" by Sam Dryden discussed the need for both short-term and long-term solutions for food production and security if we are to truly see an end to famines in Africa. He writes, "But while much more needs to be done to meet the victims&rsquo; immediate needs, we should also be thinking about long-term solutions to preclude food crises on this scale from happening in the first place."
The Globe and Mail article concludes with, "That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s more important than ever for international donors and African governments to continue to support programs that give small farmers access to the good seeds, quality tools and reliable markets they need to become self-sufficient. It&rsquo;s up to all of us to make sure this horrible famine is the last."
Opportunity International has recognized this need and in February 2010, Opportunity International announced a $16 M partnership with The Gates and MasterCard Foundations to provide financial access to 1.4 M of the rural poor in Africa to help provide some of the long-term solutions Mr. Dryden proposes we need. Reeta Roy, President and CEO, The MasterCard Foundation stated, "The MasterCard Foundation believes that Opportunity International's innovations in microfinance will prove to be key contributions to helping Africa's poor and rural families become self-sustaining,"
Thanks to the partnership with the Gates and MasterCard Foundations, products and services like agrifinance, focused on rural outreach, can be used along with the savings, loans, insurance and training being provided by Opportunity to empower small-scale farmers to become big change agents in their communities.
Take Action...

Share this post on Facebook, Twitter and email by clicking the buttons below
Start a fundraiser on OpportunityCan to raise funds and awareness for Opportunity's work in Africa
Become a MicroVenture philanthropist and support Opportunity's work in Africa with a monthly commitment

More...

Watch the video above, "Harvesting Hope - Helping Farmers Thrive"
Read he full article on from The Globe and Mail
Learn more about agrifinance
About The MasterCard Foundation's work with Opportunity International]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Riding for Relief]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

// 
This Fall, Opportunity supporters put their blood, sweat and gears to work on their bikes, joining the movement to end poverty and transform lives by raising a combined $5,000 to help unlock the potential of Opportunity clients in Colombia.
On Vancouver Island, Rita Roorda and her husband Rick organized a &ldquo;Ride the Ridge&rdquo; event. With the support of colleagues at La-Z-Boy Victoria, family and friends, 12 riders participated in the ride along Hurricane Ridge, raising over $4,000 as part of the Partners in Hope group.
While the rider who raised the most funds won a La-Z-Boy recliner, the real winners were those living in poverty in the rural community of Fundacion, Colombia where the Opportunity International Canada and Partners in Hope village partnership is impacting over 3,000 lives and reaching clients who may never have had access to business loans or financial services before.
Across the country in Waterloo Ontario, Opportunity Governor Shane Pegg rode for Opportunity International Canada in the &ldquo;Ride for Refuge&rdquo;. Ride for Refuge is a fundraising bike ride &ldquo;in support of the displaced, vulnerable and exploited.&rdquo; It enables participants to raise funds for the charity they work with -&nbsp; and have a good time doing it.
&rdquo;We ride to support Opportunity and the clients they serve first and foremost," said Pegg, "but it&rsquo;s also a great way for us to feel more connected to the causes and ultimately people we care about and are trying to help."
Pegg raised over $1,000 for Opportunity International Canada.
If the average first-time Opportunity International loan to an entrepreneur is $142, then by simply combining their hobbies with their heart to remember the less fortunate, Shane Pegg and the Roordas&rsquo; helped UnDo the hold poverty has on the lives of over 35 families at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
Learn more and start your own fundraiser at opportunityinternational.ca/start-a-fundraiser. Got another idea? Email us!]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Golf Tournaments Raise Over $40,000]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

// 
Golfing and alleviating poverty have a long history. A successful history. Put some men and women who are happy to pay to swing some clubs together with a worthy cause, and you have an almost painless way to raise some serious funds for those who have little or no access to financial services.
This Fall was no exception. In the last few months, three golfing tournaments run by Opportunity International Canada supporters in Manitoba and Ontario helped raise over $40,000 towards helping people living in poverty unlock their potential.
In Manitoba, long-term Opportunity partner D&eacute;cor Cabinets staged their annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament in at the Minnewasta Golf and Country Club in Morden, selecting Opportunity International Canada as a &ldquo;charity of choice&rdquo; to share in the $58,000 raised.
D&eacute;cor Vice-President of finance Dave Schellenberg told local reporters the golf tournament has a dual purpose of raising money for charity and &ldquo;sharing our values and faith with our suppliers.&rdquo; If you also count the enjoyment of the golfers as a &ldquo;purpose&rdquo;, the benefits of the event were triple-fold.
In Toronto, DUCA Financial Services Credit Union held their first ever charity golf tournament with great success raising $30,000 for Opportunity International and their Villages of Opportunity partnership in Colombia.
Two years ago, in an effort to bridge the gap between financial services offered to their clients here in Canada, and the absence of any financial services available to the poor in some of the least developed countries, DUCA partnered with Opportunity International Canada and committed to raising over $150,000 to help provide financial services in and around the city of Cartagena, Colombia. Through the efforts of Credit Union staff, sponsors, family and friends, to date DUCA has raised over $118,000.
Not to be outdone, in London, Ontario, the Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) in London used their love of golf to organize the first-ever London Opportunity International Open golf tournament also in support of Opportunity&rsquo;s work in Colombia. A beautiful day, passionate golfers and a good cause combined to raise $8,000. Not a bad way to pass a game of golf!
&ldquo;Guilt at our own abundance is a wasted emotion,&rdquo; commented Opportunity International Canada President and CEO Bob Lawless. &ldquo;What I value in our supporters is the way they work to combine their hobbies with their heart.
&ldquo;Recreation rejuvenates us, but giving feeds our soul. It just makes sense to try to combine the two.&rdquo;
Interested in giving and/or getting more involved?

Check out ways you can give here
Learn more about corporate partnerships here 
See how you can start your own fundraiser to benefit Opportunity here
Contact us via email or by phone at 1-877-867-2448.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Networking to UnDo Poverty]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

// 
Not everyone wants to ride, golf, run or climb mountains in the name of ending poverty.
But in this day and age, everyone has an email account, almost everyone except your grandmother has a Facebook page, and everyone uses these mediums to keep track of friends, family and business acquaintances.
Kristin Briard is using the revolution of social media to start conversations about poverty and raise funds for Opportunity International Canada.
&ldquo;I am very passionate about helping people in poverty, especially those who cannot help themselves,&rdquo; says Kristin. &ldquo;I was given the book 'UnPoverty' and it talked about how Opportunity International is giving the poor business loans so they could start helping themselves.
&ldquo;What attracted me most to the idea is that small business loans helps the poor restore confidence in themselves. Who doesn&rsquo;t want to feel the accomplishment that comes from work and supporting your family?&rdquo;
The trouble is, Kristin explains, &ldquo;people kind of get sick of me always saying &ldquo;you&rsquo;ve got to give to the poor!&rdquo;
So Kristin created a personal fundraising page on OpportunityCan.ca calling it &ldquo;Together We Can Make A Difference&rdquo; with the goal of raising $1,000, and offering anyone who commits to a monthly contribution a copy of the book &ldquo;UnPoverty&rdquo; that so moved her.
&ldquo;Having a goal and it being up on a website reminds people without me being in their face,&rdquo; she laughs. &ldquo;This way I can throw a link to the page up on Facebook every so often and remind them.&rdquo;
Like Kristin, you can join in the movement to end poverty and transform lives too!

Make a contribution to Kristin's page
Start your own fundraiser
Support other people raising funds and sharing stories on OpportunityCan.ca]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Colombia Update]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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A three year project in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has successfully come to a close with overall good performance and results that exceeded expectations in certain areas. The program was designed to increase the rural outreach capacity of Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited (OISL) and Banco Opportunidade de Mozambique (BOM) in a cost-effective, sustainable manner.
One of the highlights of the project was the greatly exceeded savings client outreach targets, with the savings account client base growing by 144% and 143% in Ghana and Mozambique respectively. &nbsp;CIDA&rsquo;s International Development Project Advisor, Am&eacute;lie Pruneau commented, &ldquo;Indeed, this demonstrates that clients are building up savings to be better equipped to face life&rsquo;s challenges, to invest in their businesses, to address consumption patterns, and to deal with significant family related expenses.
In addition to the savings account growth, other highlights include:

A funeral insurance product that will allow 1,600 clients and their families to edge the financial burden in the event of death
Training of staff and senior managers appears to have led to improved levels of key skills and increased awareness of best practices
The program greatly supported women through accessibility and more women were involved in the decision making process within their families as it related to finances

As with most projects, not all of the projected activities and results were achieved. Location site issues, inflation, and local partners&rsquo; management staff instability were noted as contributing to the delay in construction of two satellite branches (one in each country) and a shortfall in loan client outreach goals.
In regards to these results, Ms. Pruneau goes on to say, &ldquo;Even if challenges somewhat undermined the program&rsquo;s implementation, the positive trend toward the end of the program bodes well in terms of sustainability of results over the next few years.&rdquo;
Before Ms. Pruneau signed off, she personally congratulated Opportunity International Canada for its &ldquo;effective and diligent monitoring&rdquo; as well as Opportunity implementing members in Ghana and Mozambique for their hard work. Read the complete letter from CIDA and Ms. Pruneau
learn more

Lucas Chingore's story (Opportunity Mozambique client)
The next 3 year project with CIDA
Latest spotlight update on Ghana
Latest spotlight update on Mozambique]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Opportunity Canada Focus Country Updates]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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Four new spotlight updates on Opportunity International Canada's focus countries are now available online for anyone to view and download. Choose the country of your interest below to get a brief update on the valuable work being done to improve lives and strengthen communities.]]></description>
		
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		<title><![CDATA[Flooring Company]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[// 

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iSO Canada, a National Flooring company with its corporate head office located in Calgary, AB, is pleased to officially announce Opportunity International as its Charity of Choice. The partnership between the national company and international non-profit organization will focus on alleviating poverty in Soledad, a &ldquo;shantytown&rdquo; in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia through the provision of microfinance.
Soledad, a shantytown within the city of Barranquilla is home to nearly half a million people living in extreme poverty, many of whom were forced to flee their homes by guerrilla conflicts in other parts of the country. Opportunity International will go into areas such as this and offer small business loans, savings, insurance and training so people can start or expand a business to provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future.
In a statement to all iSO staff, Executive Chairman Paul Verhoeff said, &ldquo;we are very excited about all the possibilities this program will create for people in Soledad in Colombia but also for all of us at iSO. The cool thing about giving is that it not only helps those we give to, but it enriches our lives as well.&rdquo;
The decision to unveil the partnership was made to coincide with the launch of the Opportunity CAN Campaign to celebrate Opportunity&rsquo;s 40 years of work ending poverty and transforming lives. The campaign&rsquo;s goal is to raise $1 million in 40 days to continue to expand Opportunity&rsquo;s work in Colombia and around the world in countries like Malawi, Ghana and Mozambique. Canadians are encouraged to get involved in countless creative ways like raising funds through dinner parties, running marathons, giving up a day&rsquo;s salary or something unique to them.
&ldquo;This campaign is about more than raising money,&rdquo; says Opportunity President and CEO, Paula Curtis. &ldquo;Although that is needed to do the work we do. This campaign is about celebrating the creativity and determination of the human spirit. Our clients have been demonstrating this for 40 years, and over these 40 days we are trying to give the everyday Canadian an opportunity to use their gifts to help as well.&rdquo;
The campaign kicks off May 17, 2011 in Calgary with the Fulfilling Dreams Gala at the Glenmore Inn and Convention Centre featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Cindy Klassen as the keynote speaker.
To learn more about iSO Canada, please visit www.isocanada.com.]]></description>
		
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