Ultra-Poverty
WHAT WE DO
Helping families take their first steps out of extreme poverty.
Ultra-poverty is the harshest form of poverty, where families struggle daily to secure life’s most basic needs. For women and youth, the path forward often requires more than access to finance. It requires confidence, skills, support, and the opportunity to imagine a different future.
That’s where Opportunity International Canada steps in. Through innovative programs, we provide families in countries like Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana with access to financial literacy and skills training, savings, support, and other tailored resources. These programs help women and youth begin to take their first steps out of ultra-poverty and overcome decades of marginalization.
Creating opportunity through innovative programs.
Graduation Programs
Bridging the gap by meeting families at their point of need and offering continuous training, mentorship, and assistance.
Youth Apprenticeship
Equipping young people in Ghana with new skills and hope for the future.
Women's Saving Groups
Savings Groups encourage members with accountability and support as they build businesses and support families.
Youth Saving Groups
Trust Groups encourage members with accountability and support as they build businesses and support families.
Our impact in ultra-poverty.
In FY2024-25, 24,361 people living in ultra-poverty in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana received the intensive, holistic support needed to begin moving forward — through graduation programs, youth apprenticeships, and savings groups that build stability, confidence, and sustainable livelihoods from the ground up.
CLIENT STORY
From ultra-poverty to a hope filled life...
Ultra-poverty exists and is completely devastating. However, with innovative opportunities, desperation and hopelessness can turn into joy and rekindled hope.
Guerline is one of the many clients whose life has been transformed. She’s been on a journey that has moved her from extreme hardship to now owning her own home, having access to clean water and being able to send her children to school and ensuring they have at least one healthy meal every day.
That’s the power of opportunity!