Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

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2013 | 4th Edition

Opportunity InternationalGovernor Community Connection 2013 | 4TH EDITION

Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

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Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

2013 | 4th Edition 2013 | 4th Edition

A Message from the CEOIn many of the places where Opportunity International works, it’s harvest season. For families in poor

and vulnerable villages, everything hinges on the harvest – if there’s bounty, it means both food on the

table and enough to sell for other needs. But if the crop yield is meager, families face dire challenges for

months to come.

As a Governor – one of our most dedicated and generous supporters – you’ve helped these families start

small businesses, implement sustainable farming operations, purchase insurance, and build savings, so

that all is not lost even if crops fail. Your investment in Opportunity International means stronger local

economies and more resilient households. You have answered Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the

poor. Believe me, I’ve spoken to those you’ve helped and it’s made a difference – thank you for your

caring heart and giving spirit.

Everything you’ll read about in this newsletter, you make possible. From innovations in agricultural

finance to critical updates to banking systems that serve thousands of hard-working entrepreneurs, you

empower our team and our clients. Your support also leverages important partnerships. This year, we

are proud and grateful to celebrate our 20th anniversary of partnership with the Caterpillar Foundation,

which will help us provide financial services to 16.7 million people.

I invite you to visit our new online Governor toolkit at opportunity.org/governor-resources. Here, you’ll

find informative, easy-to-use materials to help spread the word about Opportunity’s programs, goals

and success stories. Your support gives people the chance to transform their lives, their children’s

futures and their communities. On behalf of everyone whose lives you’ve helped improve, thank you

once again for your generosity.

Best regards,

Vicki Escarra

Chief Executive Officer

Opportunity International

Our vision is a world in which all people have the opportunity to achieve a life free from poverty, with

dignity and purpose. Our mission: By providing financial solutions and training, we empower people

living in poverty to transform their lives, their children’s futures and their communities.

IMPACT: How Governors Make Opportunity WorkYou know you belong to a group of caring supporters

that brings help and hope to millions of people every

day. But did you ever wonder who else is in your

Governor community?

Right now, there are 675 Governors across the

country, including 95 who’ve joined us this year. You

are represented in nearly every corner of our country—

38 states in all—and your group’s membership ranges in

age from supporters in their 20s to those in their 90s!

Above all, you and your fellow Governors are loyal:

the average length of time that someone supported

Opportunity International at this level is a remarkable

5 years. Your dedication, generosity and guidance mean

the world to us and are making a substantial difference

in the lives of individuals, families and communities

worldwide. Together, we’re truly changing the world for

the better.

Thank you.

OPPORTUNITY BY THE NUMBERSJust this year alone, support from your Governor community is making amazing opportunities possible:

26,000 CLIENTS served

105,000 PEOPLE affected through loans, savings and training services

Over the last 26 years, Governors’ generosity has helped give more than 7 MILLION PEOPLE the opportunity for a life free from poverty.

Governor Sue Fish (right) and supporter Sue Cottrell at a photo exhibit in St. Helena, Ca. in support of Opportunity’s work with women. Read more on page 3.

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Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

2013 | 4th Edition 2013 | 4th Edition

Exhibit Highlights Opportunity ClientsAround the world, more than 2.5 billion people—70 percent of whom are women—live on less than $2 a day. But when women come together to find opportunity and empowerment, amazing things happen. That inspiration was on display on September 5 at the public library in St. Helena, California, during a photographic exhibit called “Picturing Opportunity – a Dozen Women Changing the World.” This exhibit featured the images and stories of 12 women in Africa and Latin America who have lifted themselves, their families and some-times their communities from poverty through their

perseverance and financial services from Opportunity International. The event was attended by several area supporters, and also included a discussion led by Opportunity staff member Lillian Covington, formerly of Nairobi, Kenya and now living in Illinois. Our Governors in St. Helena have a strong history of action, including 12 years of Christmastime poinsettia sales to support our programs. Over that time, their sales and personal donations have raised an amazing $200,000 for Opportunity, helping success stories bloom around the world.

Rising to the Top in GhanaKwame Owusu-Boateng, CEO, Opportunity Ghana

In just seven years, Kwame

Owusu-Boateng has risen

all the way from a branch

operations officer to CEO of

our Ghana program. Today, he

faces both broad challenges

and enormous opportunities

in a country where 70 percent

of the working population lacks a bank account.

Kwame has seen Opportunity work at nearly every

level in Ghana. He got his start in 2006 as a branch

operations officer, and then was quickly promoted to

managing four branches in Accra, the country’s capital.

After leading one branch to recognition as Ghana’s top

performer, Kwame assumed responsibility for business

growth in 20 branches. Following appointments

as Deputy CEO and Acting CEO, he was formally

promoted to the top spot in August 2013 in recognition

of his outstanding performance.

He’s already set his sights high. “My biggest vision is to

reach out to 1 million clients in five years’ time, and to

make Opportunity a household name through financial

services and transformational activities,” he explained.

Kwame is aware of the obstacles his team will face. In

addition to navigating Ghana’s challenging economic

landscape, organizations like Opportunity face fierce

competition in hiring and retaining experienced microfi-

nance professionals. But Kwame is just the right person

for the job: with 12 years in banking and extensive

knowledge of the way Opportunity works at all levels,

he’s poised to grow the program and help his staff—as

well as our clients—to succeed.

OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEWS• In August, CEO Vicki Escarra was featured on

“Business Matters,” a BBC radio show, where she discussed current events and Opportunity’s unique approach to investing in economic opportunities for the working poor.

• Dennis Ripley, Opportunity’s Chief Business Development Officer, joined a panel of international economics experts for a live chat on “Making

Markets Work for the Poor” on the global news website The Guardian. Ripley highlighted Opportunity’s approach to market development by increasing access to financial resources.

• The Financial Times featured a piece about Oppor-tunity International’s Director of Mobile Money, Rosa Wang, which described our use of technology and mobile services to increase financial literacy. The article is a result of our efforts to introduce reporters worldwide to the work we do around the globe.

Upgrading for Client SuccessAccess to quality financial products, loans and savings relies heavily on timely innovations. That’s why Oppor-tunity Colombia recently completed an upgrade of its core banking system, which will help us more efficiently deliver services to our rapidly-growing client base.

Our staff worked with local experts to upgrade to a new technology platform that will run 24/7, ensuring real-time information updates, as well as improved functionality, reliability and security. This platform is scalable to satisfy increasing future client demands and meets Colombian banking requirements.

Opportunity Colombia also launched a new savings product called “Proyecto Mi Meta” (Project My Goal,) which gives clients the chance to save toward a specific goal, such as enough money to start a new business. If the client saves at least 50% of their goal during the established period, they’re eligible for a loan that will help them achieve the rest.

Opportunity is committed to providing clients in countries like Colombia with tools to save money in ways that meet their budget and other needs. Innovations such as this technology upgrade and pilot program offer the flexibility and security they need to meet their goals.

Better Schools, Stronger CommunitiesIn developing countries, private schools play an important role in the education system. Opportunity supports and strengthens these schools by providing loans to local school proprietors who want to improve their communities.

Private schools solve key educational and societal challenges. Class sizes are smaller. Quality is higher. Schools are closer to children’s homes. Increased earnings are reinvested into schools, which helps them grow and become more effective.

In Uganda, Opportunity’s School Improvement Loans

have resulted in higher enrollment, hiring of more teachers and a better student to teacher ratio (15:1, vs. 50:1 for an average Ugandan primary school). School proprietors who receive Opportunity loans help create jobs and spur community investment. In Uganda, our data shows that school proprietors who borrow for 36 months or longer have: 25% enrollment growth; 36% more teachers; 63% higher income

With your help, Opportunity’s School Improvement Loans are bringing better, more sustainable education to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Opportunity clients in the Progress Trust Group in San Jacinto, Colombia, record their weekly loan pay-ments.Client Rosa Salamanca, her husband Danny Jose Polonia, and daughter Lisette Tatyana Almana in Albornoz, Colombia

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Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

2013 | 4th Edition 2013 | 4th Edition

Harvesting a DreamJust a few years ago,

J.T. Ayim faced enormous

challenges. If he wanted

to purchase crop seeds

or send his children to

school, he had to sell

his family’s valuable live-

stock. When that wasn’t

possible, he was forced

to consider other alter-

natives, including local

moneylenders charging

exorbitant interest rates,

often exceeding 100

percent. He was well aware that these moneylenders

often turned debtors into slaves but, because local

banks wouldn’t lend to farmers, there were few

alternatives to making ends meet.

That changed in 2010, when Opportunity International

began programs in Ashaiman, the town nearest J.T.’s

small farm in Ghana. At first, he didn’t believe it was

possible – he thought the concept of loans to small

farmers was some kind of joke. But when he watched

his younger brother improve his harvest as an

Opportunity client, he signed up as well.

Since then, life has considerably improved for J.T.—

he’s now able to cultivate more chili peppers, cassava,

watermelon and tomatoes on his 20 acres of land, and

has more resources to buy fertilizer and other supplies

to help ensure a successful crop yield. Instead of selling

livestock to keep his business going, he’s now growing

his family’s herd by leaps and bounds. Because of all

these things, and the sustainable source of income he

has built, his family is now able to save money: almost

$1,500 over the last two years.

What does J.T. intend to do with that money? He wants

to achieve a longtime dream: sending his oldest child

to university. With help from Governors, he’ll not only

be able to accomplish that goal, but also send all six

of his children to university one day. Thank you for the

difference you make in our clients’ lives.

Family, Faith and ServiceThree generations of one family are united by one

cause: empowering people in developing countries

to break the cycle of poverty through Opportunity

International. Five members of the family are active

today in our work: current Governors Dave and Cyndi

McCrane, their son Kaelen, their daughter Jenni and

Cyndi’s mother Jeanne Chapman. Their involvement

began nearly 20 years ago.

“I was first introduced to Opportunity International

by Chanin Cooke, who works with my husband David

at Harbinger [the McCrane family business],” Cyndi

explained. “When I learned about what Opportunity

was all about, it touched my heart on so many levels.

Giving has always been important for us, but when we

became Christians, it took on a whole new focus.”

Family and faith are central to the McCranes’ investment

in Opportunity. For David, a successful entrepreneur, the

organization’s program strategy is another critical piece.

“I was personally really intrigued by Opportunity’s

business model,” David said. “It identified so closely

with the core values of my family.”

Opportunity’s mission was so important to Cyndi and

David that they began to pass it on to the rest of their

family – starting with Jeanne, who learned about our

work when Cyndi gave a donation in her name.

“I joined the ‘Poinsettia Ladies,’ as we are called here in

St. Helena, due to our annual sale of poinsettia plants,

with the proceeds going to Opportunity for micro-loans

for women in developing countries,” Jeanne explained.

“It has been a most rewarding endeavor.”

David and Cyndi wanted to pass that entrepreneurial

spirit on to their children as well. Two of them – Kaelen

and Jenni – went on an Insight Trip to Colombia and

returned with an appreciation for what microfinance

can do. The experience inspired both of them to

become even more deeply involved through joining

Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO).

“We share a common goal, a common passion and

that adds so much depth to any relationship,” Kaelen

explained.

“My parents’ passion for philanthropy has been a

guiding influence in my life,” Jenni agreed. “Supporting

one mission as a family is a unique experience.”

“Helping others to obtain their dreams for themselves

was exactly what we wanted to do as a family and pass

on to our children,” Cyndi said. “We are blessed to be a

part of Opportunity International.”

You Make Opportunity PossibleThanks to you, and the hundreds of other Governors across the country, Opportunity International is making a

proven difference in the lives of millions of poor people worldwide. Our aim is to invite others to share in God’s

calling to love and serve the poor. You have answered that call, and for that we are grateful.

You help us reach over five million people with financial services and training. On behalf of the families and communities we serve, thank you.

Moving Farmers Out of PovertyOpportunity is committed to evaluating our

performance to ensure that we’re reaching people

who need us most with strong, impactful programs.

A recent Opportunity study on the impact of providing

agricultural loans has confirmed just that. The study, covering our loans to farmers in three African countries, revealed two key findings:

1. Opportunity is successfully reaching poor clients

2. Opportunity farmers are moving out of poverty more successfully than non-Opportunity farmers

This study, which examined loans in Ghana, Malawi and

Uganda from 2009 to 2012, utilized a measure called

the Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI). This index uses

a set of 10 questions that a farmer can answer in as

little as five minutes. The questions range from inquiries

about housing conditions to queries about children’s

education, and are designed to estimate if a family lives

below established national poverty lines.

Opportunity surveyed more than 1,200 clients in the

three countries, then compared changes in responses

over the three-year period. In Malawi, we found that

56% of respondents lived on less than $1.25 a day—

a strong indication that we’re effectively reaching poor

families.

From 2009 to 2012, we found that the percentage of

farmers who were closest to working themselves above

the poverty line increased by 6.4%. Moreover, upward

mobility among Opportunity clients was almost twice

as fast as among non-client farmers.

The data shows that, with your support, we’re moving in

the right direction. We are reaching poor clients in need

of our services. And, the services we provide help impov-

erished farmers to improve their lives and livelihoods.

Although we’re making progress, more work must be

done. Your continued commitment will empower millions

more people to work their way out of poverty.

Jenni, Zachary, David, Cyndi, and Kaelen McCrane with Jeanne Chapman

Opportunity International | Governor Community Connection

2013 | 4th Edition

Upcoming EventsInsight Trips• November 2-10: Nicaragua

• November 13-17: Nicaragua

• February 16-20, 2014: Nicaragua

• April 20-26, 2014: Rwanda

• May 18-23, 2014: Ghana

To view a full list of Insight Trips or register for a trip, visit: opportunity.org/be-involved

Regional Summits • November 14: Minneapolis

• November 19: Atlanta

To register visit: opportunity.org/regionalsummits

Cover Photo: A tea farmer in Mulanje, Malawi with her loan officer.

Opportunity International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and serves all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.

441.16.1013 © Opportunity International

2122 York Road, Suite 150Oak Brook, IL 60523800.793.9455opportunity.org/govconnection

Opportunity International CEO Vicki Escarra talks with Caterpillar Foundation President Michele Sullivan.