From our Chief Executive Officer

Poverty can be defined as the severe lack of possessions which significantly reduces the quality of a person’s life. But poverty is also a lack of access to services and essential goods.

Our aim at Opportunity International Australia is to end poverty. Through small loans, we assist people living in poverty to build a small business and work towards a brighter future. It taps into the entrepreneurial spirit, the dignity of creating one’s own tomorrow with purpose.

By 31 December 2019, we had, through our Asian program partners: • provided nearly 6.7 million small loans • reached 5.8 million people with health, sanitation and nutrition education • taught more than 2 million people to identify and avoid child sex trafficking; and • provided funding support for EduFinance products.

The overwhelming majority of our loan disbursements are to women—mothers and wives—as they remain the powerhouse to grassroot economic development. With an average of five in each family, our 6.7 million small loans resulted in more than 30 million people benefiting from your support – more than the entire Australian population!

“These are uncertain times, and my heart goes out to everyone affected.” “But now is not the time to give up.”

Extreme poverty and hunger will follow. United Nations modelling suggests that COVID-19 could reverse all poverty-alleviation progress made since 1990.

But now is not the time to give up. Proverbs 19:17 promises, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done.”

Now, more than ever, we need to press forward and strive to end poverty.

Thank you,

At the time of writing, the world is in lockdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. There are those who are very ill and many who are fearful; job losses are rife and people are seeking support – sometimes for the first time in their lives. These are uncertain times and my heart goes out to everyone affected.

Chief Executive Officer Opportunity International Australia

But our clients do not have access to quality healthcare, nor can they access a social security safety net. Many of our clients will lose the businesses they have worked hard to create.

Meredith Scott