Photo: Jeremy Makinson
When I became Patron of Opportunity International, fifteen years ago, we were serving a little over 100,000 people. Today more than 2,500,000 people are benefiting from an ‘Opportunity’ loan around the world, and we continue to go from strength to strength. We do this by continuing to innovate, allowing us to reach and change the lives of even more people; especially those living in rural areas and women, who make up over 80% of our ‘clients’. Learning from the past is also important. Re-inventing and improving the Banks-on-Wheels is a case in point; once seen regularly in the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, these converted 4 x 4 vehicles visit villages on certain days of the week and I saw them for myself when visiting Mozambique in April 2012. Many people living in poverty are a long way from towns and Banks-on-Wheels have become an important part of the operation to bring Opportunity to those in the most remote areas. It was a privilege to see, at first-hand, how ideas like this are changing the lives of families and communities. HRH The Princess Royal Patron, Opportunity International UK
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary work. Your generous support has enabled us to reach the homes and families of so many people. This would not be possible without you.
Photo: Suzanne Plunkett
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2012