Taking Risks

“As a firefighter, entrepreneur, and challenge seeker I’ve taken many risks in my short career.  However in less than 3 months, I am preparing to take my love for social impact and space exploration to new heights (pun intended) as stand with other young professionals around the country, raising awareness and money to alleviate global poverty. 

As a member of YAO, I have witnessed the value of Opportunity International’s reach firsthand as I spent a month in the last year volunteering support for Opportunity International-Nicaragua and can personally attest to the hundreds of persons the organization touches. Although I was unable to attend the skydive in 2011, this year I have been honoured to work alongside a dynamic group of creative individuals as part of the planning team to design what promises to milestone weekend for fundraising, building relationships and literally diving into new experiences.

Whether you are or are not a member of the microfinance community, please join me on October 27^th and advocate for Opportunity!” –Samantha Snabes

Find me: @samanthasnabes or http://about.me/samanthasnabes

I'm bursting at the seams!

Opportunity International is an incredible network of action-oriented people from around the world, working to provide a lasting foundation for poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development.  Every sponsor, advocate, loan officer, and micro-loan recipient shares this same vision, and that’s what got me so excited to be involved! 

I have a (very) small business that would not have been possible without the opportunity and education available here in the US.  Opportunity International strives for just that, to make opportunity available worldwide to people of any culture, background, caste, or social status – especially women, the very poor, and other historically marginalized groups.  By providing education and financial tools to entrepreneurs around the world, WE are accelerating the spread of prosperity and individual empowerment.  Funds are invested rather than donated to individuals and communities.  Skills are taught rather than talked about, and resources are planted with long-term solutions in mind, not dropped off for short term fixes.

Just a few months ago I was able to see firsthand this model in action along with an awesome group of Young Ambassadors from the US and Canada. Simply put: it works. So convincingly in fact, that coming back home, I’ve been bursting at the seams sharing my experience with friends and coworkers. Along with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs and young leaders from around the country, I’ll be venturing to Scottsdale to learn more about this incredible model and Opportunity’s microloan clients around the world. Join us October 27th!” 

- Kaelen McCrane

A Spark

I was first drawn to Opportunity International about 6 years ago because microfinance seemed like a culmination of many things I was deeply interested in. Poverty Alleviation. Global business. Helping women around the world. Travel. Small business development. A greater cause. Even with the best of intentions, oftentimes when an organization sparks an interest, it is just that, a spark. It rarely catches flame and soon we move on, consumed with the duties of daily life as busy, young, urban professionals. This time, something was different.

Originally, I signed up for e-mails from Opportunity and contributed some money here and there. I went back to business school, got engaged, got married, and still Opportunity was there. My ability to participate ebbed and flowed with life changes, but the more I researched and learned about Opportunity, the more I became committed to its mission, passion, and work around the world.

Andrew & I had the distinct privilege to travel to Tanzania in August 2011 as part of a YAO insight trip. It was incredible to meet the clients face-to-face, hear their stories of how the businesses they created using microfinance changed their lives, and to observe the efficiency and pride with which the OI staff performed their work. We are now members of the Board of Governors and enjoy introducing our family and friends to the global work of this cause. I am honored to serve as the Co-Chair of the Chicago chapter of YAO along with Amanda Britt. We have a vibrant and exciting chapter in Chicago that is growing quickly. We host larger events each quarter and social events sprinkled in between. We are beginning to gear up for our big fundraiser- Tunes for Tanzania- in November when we bring local bands together to generate buzz and excitement for microfinance.

The YAO Adventure Weekend is an exciting event because it brings together Young Ambassadors and chapters from all across the country. It is exhilarating to realize that our work here in Chicago is part of a wider, global network, all striving to increase awareness and fundraising for microfinance. I am excited to participate on the leadership team of the YAO Adventure Weekend and look forward to putting my commitment into action this October!”  - Sara Freer