We’re All In This Together

Amidst the numbers, worrying news, and uncertainty for the future, the sense that we are all connected in this experience bring us together at this time. 

Many of us involved with Opportunity International Canada — donors and staff — have had the amazing experience of visiting our clients. This usually takes the form of an Insight Trip where, under the care and guidance of our local Implementing Partner, ten or so of us meet with a number of clients over the course of a week. And without exception, everyone is changed by the experience.

The theory of microfinance resonates — what’s not to like about the empowering idea of a hand up versus a handout? Or as Bono once put it, “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Give a woman microcredit, she, her husband, her children and her extended family will eat for a lifetime.”

When you meet a client, it moves you beyond microfinance theory and goes straight to the heart.  I have seen tough financial executives breakdown in tears during debrief sessions (and have teared up myself). These are deeply inspiring encounters, as we witness for ourselves the courage, resiliency, faith and drive with which our clients have built viable microenterprises, all because they had the opportunity of a small loan — financial inclusion and training with dignity.

But I think what really connects is the sense of our shared humanity. Regardless of economic status, education or where they live, people want to provide for their families and have hopes and dreams for the future. It’s no different with our clients and you can see the hope in their eyes, the pride of job well done, and the satisfaction of building a small business that makes it possible not only to feed, clothe, house and educate their kids, but in many cases to create jobs for their neighbours.

Having met our clients, visited their workplaces and their homes — and even played with their kids — our hearts are broken as we imagine the impact of COVID-19.  

As is the case in Canada, the countries where Opportunity International Canada serves — Nicaragua, Haiti, Colombia, India, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Ghana – all are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic as both a health and an economic crisis. 

But the impact on the poor is always disproportionate.  The health care infrastructure in these countries will probably be even more overwhelmed, and for the most part our clients won’t even have access.  

“For many of our clients, Stay at Home means Starve at Home.”

And economically? The situation is dire. Social distancing measures have closed down businesses, including those of our clients. As one Opportunity colleague put it, “For many of our clients, Stay at Home means Starve at Home.”

And, since these clients aren’t working, they aren’t making their loan payments, in turn creating a financial challenge for our Implementing Partners.  The interest on these loans generates the revenue for sustainability, so that our Partners can be there for our clients. 

We are in contact weekly with all of our Partners, and their response in the midst of the crisis is inspiring. They’re using their channels to tens of thousands of clients and their families and communities (WhatsApp, Radio, IVR) to provide COVID-19 prevention training. They have also distributed support kits. In the Dominican Republic, our Partner even hired one of their clients to make face masks that they can distribute, and they have also delivered two weeks of grocery supplies to ultra-poor families who just started a microenterprise and have no savings.  

But our Implementing Partners are struggling because of this crisis. In response we have launched our COVID-19 Response Fund.  This fund will allow us to stand with our Partners and clients – to help them survive now so that we can help them thrive later.  Funds will be used for things like loan capital, payment of interest (Implementing Partner and client) and help with Loan Officer salaries, enabling our partners to continue to support our clients.

We have also started thinking about our post-COVID-19 response.  Many clients will need fresh infusions of microloans along with training to re-start their business. But our clients are nothing if not resilient. So, we will adapt our program response, in close collaboration with our Implementing Partners, to raise the funds needed to help our clients to re-launch.

“Yes, it’s true that my wealth has declined, but my compassion has increased, because I know I am still far better off then all of the clients we serve.” 

I have spoken with many of our donors – people who have also met our clients – and their response in the face of their own COVID-19 challenges inspires me. Most of them are impacted by the economic downturn here in Canada, but instead of retrenching they are giving as they are able. As one donor told me, “Yes, it’s true that my wealth has declined, but my compassion has increased, because I know I am still far better off then all of the clients we serve.” 

These are truly uncharted waters, with new challenges emerging weekly. But Opportunity International Canada is blessed with an inspiring and resilient community that includes our clients, Implementing Partners, donors, volunteers and staff – standing united together we will emerge ever stronger.  

And for that I am truly grateful.

Dan