Did you ever have to make a patch for a quilt in elementary school? We had to design one that represented our family or something unique about us for the new library wing. I remember feeling pretty excited to see the quilt put together and hanging on the library wall. Most of all, seeing my personal patch and having a sense of importance and achievement in the contribution to the work. Somewhere embedded in that project was a lesson to us kindergarten kids that when everyone contributes to a project, it becomes a beautiful mosaic to be appreciated and celebrated by the on-looker and contributors. Ah, the impact of collaboration- the spirit of a nearly 20-year-old event coming up on Saturday, October 17th.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
This Saturday marks the seventeenth official International Day for the Eradication of Poverty . The United Nations instituted this day formally in 1992, though celebration can be traced back to 1987. The event is aimed at “presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the Day, and requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures necessary to ensure the success of the Day’s observance by the United Nations.”
And to answer that call, organizations around the world are putting together programs that build awareness and action. And Opportunity International is no exception.
Introducing Opportunity
To provide some context, Opportunity International is one of the world’s largest microfinance organizations. The organization provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to people living in poverty in the developing world. Clients in nearly 30 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors.
Opportunity International works with fundraising partners in the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. Contributions from individuals, governments, corporations and foundations are leveraged through savings deposits and commercial borrowings to increase the size of our loan pool. These funds support our sustainable operations in over 40 programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Through these efforts, Opportunity is creating a self-sustaining approach to help come along side the world’s working poor.
The organization also has invested significant resources in technology within the field. Over the last 10 years, Opportunity has invested more than $20 million in the use of electronic and mobile technologies to reduce transaction costs and bring services to the most marginalized and remote clients. Cards using biometric technology provide convenient and secure access to finances, even for those who are illiterate or lack formal identification. New technologies in development will use cell phones, and satellite and broadband Internet to further increase Opportunity’s reach.
Opportunity currently serves over 1 million clients worldwide, providing resources for entrepreneurs to grow their business, strengthen their families, and empower their children. Opoprtunity was recently recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative for their Banking on Education program, a work in providing resources for children’s education and savings.
A Different Kind of Quilt
This year, in commemoration of the International Day for Poverty Eradication, Opportunity International, through it’s online peer-to-peer lending site, OptINnow.org, is selling patches for their digital quilt. The quilt began on International Women’s Day this year, was added to on both Mother’s and Father’s day, and will be completed after this celebration. Currently, the quilt has over 400 patches that provide a picture of peoples’ commitment to fighting poverty with an effective tool.
Opportunity is taking it one step further and issuing a challenge on behalf of the 2.6 billion people living in abject poverty. For the next five days. Opportunity is asking just 26 people to stand up each day for 5 days, and declare their commitment to the eradication of poverty through the purchase of one quilt patch. Anyone has the chance to purchase a $25 patch, write about their commitment to eradicating poverty or send a message to a special someone. After you purchase the patch, you will receive a free $25 gift card that you can either use to invest in an entrepreneur. You can also send the card to a friend or family member to help spread the word.
In addition, the staff at Opportunity is asking you to commit to engaging in conversation with just 26 people this week- sharing statistics and information about issues that are rooted in poverty. And then, you have the chance to tell Opportunity about your discussion on the Opportunity Blog.
Ruth-Anne Renaud, Vice President of Women’s Philanthropy and Online Marketing for Opportunity said, “Sometimes the need seems so daunting, but it is not insurmountable if we each do something. This is a chance for you to stand up, make a statement that you really believe that we can and should eradicate poverty in our lifetime.”
Choose to Fight
Whether you engage on this platform, or choose a different way, be sure to participate in this celebration on Saturday. Live on just $2 for a week, attend a seminar about poverty awareness, host a party where you ask the attendees to bring a small donation instead of a gift. Do something and contribute to the patchwork quilt of this movement-that others might see, believe, and act.
