Microfinance
WHAT WE DO
Alleviating poverty through microfinance.
In a world where 1 in 4 of the population live in poverty, with millions struggling for survival, microfinance stands out as a beacon of hope offering a dignified, sustainable, and transformative pathway out of poverty. Opportunity International Canada is committed to alleviating poverty by fostering financial inclusion through microfinance, training, and support. With your help we empower entrepreneurs, mainly women who would otherwise be excluded from traditional banking, with financial solutions that meet them at their point of need along the poverty spectrum. Through small loans and access to savings opportunities, we help individuals build sustainable, income-generating businesses.
Our approach combines microfinance with essential training in financial literacy, business management, and household budgeting. Additionally, we offer innovative solutions, including digital banking, to make financial tools more accessible than ever before. By equipping entrepreneurs with these resources, we empower them to break the cycle of poverty for themselves, their families, and future generations.
As a pioneer in microfinance and financial inclusion, we are deeply committed creating a world where every life has the opportunity to thrive. We invite you to learn more about our work and the impact of microfinance in creating pathways out of poverty.
How microfinance works
1. Donations are received from generous donors.
2. Funds are leveraged by our microfinance program partners and used as evidence of financial strength, enabling partners to secure further funding from lenders.
3. Loans are distributed to help families build businesses. Impact is increased as businesses expand, allowing families to feed, educate and provide healthcare to their children. Many create jobs in their community.
4. Loans are recycled. Once a client repays their loan, it is re-lent to someone else. The historical rate of repayment is 97%.
5. The cycle of poverty is broken, and families are marginalized no more. Individuals, families, and communities begin to thrive.
Marginalized no more...
Increased incomes help families become food secure with more nutritional options, educate their children, and improve health and security. Earnings are invested back into businesses resulting in growth and job opportunities for neighbours. Communities start to thrive, and families begin to overcome generations of marginalization.
That’s the potential of opportunity!
Empowering women and building resilient communities through microfinance
At Opportunity International Canada, we believe that empowering women entrepreneurs through microfinance and financial inclusion, is essential for building lasting and sustainable change. Women are the backbone of families and communities.
Women entrepreneurs play a central role in economic development, especially in regions with limited opportunities. For example, women smallholder farmers in Ghana and Malawi demonstrate how access to capital, training, and support can empower women to transform their businesses, increase productivity, and enhance food security in their communities. When women gain these resources, they become key drivers of economic resilience, fostering sustainable growth and creating lasting impact for their families and communities.
When given the tools and opportunities to succeed as entrepreneurs, women uplift not only themselves but also their families, neighbours, and entire communities.
CLIENT STORIES
Real lives transformed through microfinance.
Ana Julia, Nicaragua
Ana Julia, a single mother from Nicaragua, transformed her life with Opportunity International’s support. Once struggling to provide for her children, she received a microloan to start a small sewing business. Now, she supports her family, employs local workers, and helps her daughter with college expenses. Her story exemplifies the power of microfinance to break the cycle of poverty.
Kenia, Honduras
Kenia and her husband Gabriel, originally from Honduras, started a banana farming business with support from Opportunity International’s local partner. With microloans, they expanded their farm and now transport bananas to markets, aiming for further growth. Their journey highlights resilience, dedication, and the transformative power of small beginnings in building a sustainable future for their family.
Zinabu, Ghana
Zinabu’s journey exemplifies her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community. With the support of Opportunity’s partner, Sinapi Aba, she transformed a sachet water business into a thriving restaurant and guesthouse. Now, Zinabu supports local orphans and plans to build an orphanage, inspired by her own challenging childhood. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience and the impact of microfinance.