In 2021, we at Opportunity International Canada are focused on helping clients rebuild their livelihoods, so that they can thrive as they emerge from this pandemic. A sustainable livelihood is one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty, increasing household incomes so that parents can provide for the basic needs of their families – food, housing, health and education.
A sustainable livelihood is one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty.
Sustainable livelihoods help to break the inter-generational transfer of poverty, changing the trajectory for individuals, families and entire communities.
Microfinance has proven to be a powerful catalyst for creating sustainable livelihoods.
The simple opportunity of being trusted with a small loan, along with financial literacy training, has empowered millions of microentrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods, providing better futures for their families and, in many cases, jobs for their neighbours.
The simple opportunity of being trusted with a small loan, along with financial literacy training, has empowered millions of microentrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods.
The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted the global poor. It has decimated livelihoods, driving millions deeper into poverty.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors in 2020, we stood shoulder to shoulder with our microfinance Partners, to help sustain them through this financial crisis so they could support their clients. We will continue this strong partnership in 2021, and together we will work to help rebuild client livelihoods that were decimated throughout the pandemic.
Our key focus will be on rebuilding livelihoods in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras, three Latin American countries where Canada plays a lead role within the Opportunity International family.
We have set an ambitious $2 million goal for this campaign. Funds will be used towards loans and training to help rebuild client livelihoods, in addition to continued operational support for our Partners so they can provide these services where needed most.
As these economies shut down, client enterprises were shuttered. With no income, clients used up their savings and capital. In many cases they couldn’t feed their families, let alone make loan payments.
Rebuilding client livelihoods will be a primary focus for Opportunity International Canada in 2021.
We will help our Partners work with their clients to restructure loans, extend additional credit to help re-start their businesses, and provide coaching and training to adapt to new sources of income. In this way, rebuilding client livelihood will be a primary focus for Opportunity International Canada in 2021.
Of course, we will continue to support other important initiatives, including Pathway to a Better Life in Haiti, Aspiring Together in the Dominican Rebublic, Community Health Workers in India and the global Education Finance program.
Last year was very difficult, and we’re certainly not out of the woods yet as the world awaits the deployment of vaccines. But we, along with our Partners, have learned a lot about the impact on clients and how we can help them move forward.
In many ways, this is microfinance 101. Microfinance was one of the most transformative, sustainable and dignified pathways out of poverty pre-pandemic and it will prove to be just as impactful post-pandemic.
Opportunity International remains very much about hope, and together with our donors and Implementing Partners, we can bring hope to clients and their families, helping them to thrive as they rebuild their lives and livelihoods in the aftermath of this pandemic.