Who we are
About us
Opportunity International Australia is a non-profit organisation that uses a business approach to solve the problem of poverty. Rather than a hand-out, we provide people living in poverty with a small loan (microfinance) to help them start or grow their own small business. This enables them to earn a regular income so they no longer have to struggle to afford food, clean water, proper shelter or an education for their children.
With more than 35 years’ experience working with the poor, Opportunity International Australia is a leading provider and pioneer of microfinance and support services. Part of the global Opportunity International Network (with support partners in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany), we are currently providing a way out of poverty for more than 2.8 million people in 25 developing countries around the world. Click here for more information about our history, or, for more information about our founder David Bussau, please click here.
Opportunity International Australia currently focuses its work in three countries – India, Indonesia and the Philippines, serving more than 2 million people with microfinance and community development programs. You can join us as we work to help millions more leave poverty behind for good.
Our mission
Our mission is to provide opportunities for people living in poverty to transform their lives. Our vision is to see millions of people lifted out of poverty permanently.
Our motivation
Opportunity International Australia is motivated by Jesus Christ’s call to serve the poor. We believe in the potential of people regardless of their gender, ethnicity or religious affiliation.
Our difference
· We exist to help the poor. We are not motivated by economic return – our return is seeing people’s lives changed.
· We are a long-term, strategic partner. We support our microfinance partners with funding as well as much-needed technical and operational assistance, empowering them to reach out to people in poverty within their borders.
· We don’t stop with microfinance. As well as small loans, we provide people in poverty with non-financial services and training to strengthen their businesses and develop their communities.
· Your donation keeps on working. Because the loans we give are repaid and lent out again, each donation we receive is constantly at work. In fact, one donation can transform the lives of hundreds of people.