About Opportunity

Our Vision

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.

Our Motivation

We respond to Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the poor. We seek to emulate the Good Samaritan, whose compassion crossed ethnic groups and religions. We serve all people regardless of race, faith, ethnicity or gender.

Our Values

Commitment Humility Respect Integrity Stewardship Transformation

Opportunity International Australia traces its humble beginnings back to the mid-1970s when Australian entrepreneur David Bussau loaned $50 to a struggling Indonesian farmer named Ketut Suwiria. Ketut used the loan to buy a sewing machine and started a tailoring business with his wife. Their growing business generated a regular income and allowed Ketut to repay the loan. He went on to start an import/export business and run a fleet of taxis – providing employment for others in his community.

Seeing the impact that one small loan had made, David Bussau provided loans to 20 more people. The small businesses they created provided for their basic needs, while also giving men and women confidence, dignity and respect. As loan after loan was repaid and recycled—and as increasingly more people were able to move out of poverty and become financially secure—David decided to scale up the model, selling his businesses to focus on poverty alleviation.

Meanwhile, American businessman Al Whittaker, had been trialling a similar concept in South America. In 1979, the two men joined forces and formed what would become Opportunity International. Opportunity International Australia became a separate entity in 1989.

Today, Opportunity is continuing David’s work. By providing small loans to families, Opportunity is helping them leave poverty behind. The Opportunity International Network is comprised of support members from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Australia, with assistance from many other countries, and our supporters are helping families in more than 20 countries.