Opportunity International Australia Blog

Despite pleas from people all over the country, prominent Australians and the aid & development sector, the federal government has been unable to stay on track with its promise to increase foreign aid for 2012- 2013. Last night the 2012-2013 budget was released, producing a budget surplus at the expense of an increase in overseas aid and sending the government’s previous aid target of $8 billion or 0.5% of GNI (Gross National Income) by 2015 into jeopardy.

So what does this mean for people living in poverty?
Figures calculated by Australian based aid organisations are stating that up to 250,000 lives could be lost due to the reduction in foreign aid. That’s a staggering number. It highlights the significant impact that Australia can have in the fight against poverty.

What can you do? And will it make a difference?
Your support is needed more now than ever. As the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott prepares his budget reply speech, it’s important that we ask him to keep his promise should the Coalition form government.

You can have your voice heard by sending Tony Abbott a message by email, fax or post. Click here to get on board with the Micah Challenge campaign to ask Tony Abbott to keep his promise.

What else can you do?
While many organisations rely on government funding for their important programs, the majority of support comes from individual donations. In times when the government can’t commit, the Australian public can still make a difference. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to reach out to families living in poverty today.

Sources: http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/blog/n/aid-promise-sacrificed-to-budget-surplus-120509

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/charities-warn-gillard-not-to-cut-foreign-aid/story-e6freonf-1226319755985 

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/foreign-aid-vow-broken-20120508-1ybdk.html#ixzz1uKEgjcdo

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/foreign-aid-funding-boost-delayed-till-2016-20120508-1yb3w.html#ixzz1uK57lvIS

Sometimes in our work we’re asked if what we do can really change anything when there is so much need out there. There’s so much poverty in the world – why bother? Can anything we do really make a difference?

Perhaps the only answer to that question is this: it makes a difference to the one. It made a difference to Melba from the Philippines, who is pictured on this year’s cover with her five-year-old daughter Renalyn. A small loan has enabled Melba to start a cooking business, and the income she is earning means that Renalyn is now in school.

To read Opportunity International Australia’s 2011 Annual Review, please click here.

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The remote islands of eastern Indonesia are some of the poorest in the country. Opportunity International Australia’s microfinance partner, TLM, recently opened up a new microfinance branch on one of these islands, Flores. Due to the remote location and the island’s dependence on small-scale farming for people’s livelihoods (often reliant on seasonal and unreliable rain), levels of poverty in this area have worsened in recent times and there has been an increase in the costs of basic items, especially food.

Malnutrition is a chronic problem, particularly for children – the area has one of the highest death rates in Indonesia for children under the age of five. About 96% of households have a daily expenditure which equates to less than Rp.17,000 (A$2).

A huge 95% of the labour force is engaged in agriculture. Many people are subsistence farmers who use traditional farming methods without the benefit of modern equipment. Farmers also lack the capital to invest in their livelihood and have no access to financial services to help manage their cash flow during lean periods.

Flores is less then 3,000 miles from Australia, but with statistics like this, it is a whole world away in some respects. Through its new branch on the island, TLM will be providing access to basic banking services that many people living in rural or isolated regions don’t usually have access to.

The branch will also soon provide financial literacy training, allowing clients to learn about the importance of saving and financial planning. This will enable them to become financially stable and less susceptible to external shocks, providing them with the best chance of moving permanently out of poverty.

Local Flores resident, Adrianus, is already benefiting from the new branch. Adrianus runs a motorcycle repair shop and saw a microloan as a brilliant opportunity to improve his business. The capital injection allowed him to expand and develop the shop, and through the additional income, his business is now generating enough income for him to send his children to school. Adrianus has even been able to employ two locals, giving them an opportunity to earn a regular income and progress in their journeys out of poverty, too.

Flores island is just one of the remote locations where Opportunity is making a difference. We are committed to go where others haven’t – or won’t. With your support, we can provide even more opportunities for people living in rural poverty. If you would like to make a difference to families in need, please click here to donate today.

Sources: Nusa Tenggara Timur In Figures, Swisscontact and UNICEF Newsline

For many of Opportunity International Australia’s clients, this is a reality.

Often families are faced with the sudden and unexpected illness of a family member that could easily be treated with basic healthcare. However, for many people living in rural regions with limited money, even minor illnesses that they are forced to leave untreated can be devastating.

In India, Opportunity is partnering with a strategic and technical partner in healthcare to address this issue - The Healing Fields Foundation. Opportunity plans to educate 70 women in basic healthcare procedures and disease prevention methods, empowering them to become Community Healthcare Facilitators (CHFs).

These CHFs will each educate approximately 250 households in their community about personal healthcare and imparting crucial information about the state-provided facilities which many families are unaware they have access to.

Microfinance is effective in giving people a chance to increase their income by growing a small business but in some cases, a small shock such as ill health can push a family back into poverty. The sustainability of income improvements as a result of microfinance is therefore challenged and its long term positive impacts can become unstable.

To combat this, the CHFs will also encourage collectives of families to establish health savings groups which can be accessed should a group member become ill and be faced with healthcare costs.

The program has the potential to reach over 87,500 people (70 CHFs reaching 250 households of five people) and educate them on the importance of healthcare and saving for these incidents. The program aims to reduce mortality rates, lower the incidence of disease, increase income security and bring communities together in collectives.

Programs like this offer Opportunity’s clients a more holistic approach to reducing poverty. If you would like to help support Opportunity’s programs and give families a greater chance at overcoming poverty, please click here to donate today.

Did you know that 70% of the world’s poor are women and girls? Even more shocking is that women perform 66 per cent of the world’s work and produce 50 per cent of the world’s food, yet earn only 10 per cent of the income and own only 1 per cent of the property. Today on 8 March, United Nations International Women’s Day celebrates the progress that has been made in the recognition of women while also highlighting concerning statistics like these ones.

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is ‘women’s economic empowerment’. Although women are disempowered all over the world, this is particularly true for women living in developing countries. For women, having access to a quality education, meaningful employment, land and other resources reduces gender inequality and contributes to sustainable development.

What can be done?

For women living in poverty, having access to financial services means being able to improve their economic security. A small microfinance loan can enable a woman to start a business, earn an income and provide for her family through increased financial stability.

With this, women are given new choices and new hope – they are able to take control of their family’s future, investing their income into nutritious food, healthcare, sanitation and an education for their children.

Many even grow their small businesses to the point of employing other people. As a result, microfinance has flow-on effects for local economies – increasing employment and providing incomes for other poor families in the community. In doing so, microfinance provides a sustainable, long-term solution to poverty that is felt throughout a nation.

So what can we do?

Opportunity International Australia provides microfinance and support services to people living in poverty throughout the Philippines, India and Indonesia. 94 per cent of our clients are women.

This March, in honour of International Women’s Day, you can reach out to women in need by donating in support of Opportunity’s work at www.opportunity.org.au

By providing a hand up through microfinance and not a hand out, you can help empower a woman, a family, a community and even a nation.

Sources: UNWomen, www.internationalwomensday.org.au

The new report states that child malnutrition is largely a hidden problem with few physical symptoms; unlike starvation, it goes largely unnoticed at a global scale. Malnutrition leaves children more susceptible to disease and illness, as well as causing mental and physical stunting.

In India, findings state that 24% of children go hungry every day. While India has seen significant economic growth in recent years, poverty, illness and malnutrition are still rife. Many families can’t afford to give their children milk, bread or meat and many go to bed hungry. Often parents are forced to take their children out of school prematurely so that they can begin working to help support the family’s food supply.

Hunger and malnutrition in young children have enormous ramifications for their future quality of life. Opportunity International Australia understands that to curb malnutrition and illness in children, it is important that they receive adequate and nutritious meals. By providing small microfinance loans to people living in poverty in developing countries such as India, families are able to start a small business, earn a regular income and afford proper meals. Improved financial security also means that they are able to withstand volatile food prices and have a greater chance at leading a life free from poverty.

With your support, Opportunity can help secure the futures for more families living in poverty. Click here to donate today.

Sources:
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/one-in-four-children-malnourished-report/story-e6freonf-1226272278073

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/24-per-cent-indian-kids-go-hungry-daily-survey/230602-3.html

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/12919454/malnutrition-puts-450m-children-at-risk-of-stunting/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/easily-affordable-to-save-2-million-children-report-says.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9696000/9696493.stm

http://www.economist.com/node/21547771

Inspired by Opportunity International Australia’s work? Now’s your chance to get involved and make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty throughout the world.

For more information about our volunteer and intern program, please visit http://opportunity.org.au/getinvolved/volunteer.aspx or contact intern@opportunity.org.au 
 
See below for a list of available volunteer and intern positions:

Database-CRM (Raiser’s Edge) Intern

The Database – CRM (Raiser’s Edge) Intern will assist the Donor Services team to provide back-office support for Opportunity International Australia’s fundraising activities. Some of their responsibilities will include: 
 
- Ensure database (Raiser’s Edge) is updated to reflect all current donor information
- Run fortnightly data integrity validation tests to maintain clean database
- Assist in compiling Raiser’s Edge user guide
- Provide overflow administration support for events
- Assist with ad hoc projects as required
 
The successful candidate will be committed to work voluntarily, three to four days a week over a period of at least four and a half months.

For more information and to apply for this role, visit http://www.opportunity.org.au/Get-Involved/Internships/Database---CRM--Raiser-s-Edge-Internship.aspx

Donor Services Research Intern

The Donor Services Research Intern will undertake a broad range of research tasks to support Opportunity International Australia’s engagement with the philanthropic sector, specifically corporate philanthropy and foundations and trusts. Some of their responsibilities will include:
 
- Desktop research on Australian corporates and philanthropists
- Collection and analysis of data using the donor database, Raiser’s Edge Sourcing information from external organisations based in Australia and overseas
- Sourcing and monitoring relevant academic and published literature
- Liaison with staff and external contacts
- Responding to research requests from staff
- Contributing to donor profiles, internal briefings, reports and presentations

The successful candidate will be committed to work voluntarily, three to four days a week over a period of at least four and a half months.

For more information and to apply for this role, visit http://www.opportunity.org.au/Get-Involved/Internships/Donor-Services-Research-Internship.aspx

Volunteer IT Coordinator 

The IT Coordinator will assist with managing the relationship with our external IT help desk support provider and ensure issues are adequately resolved in a timely manner.  We are looking for a pro-active, hardworking person with several years of experience in IT management. Some of their responsibilities will include:
- Internal coordination for monthly and quarterly network maintenance or outages
- Oversee security of the network – user accounts, security groups, distribution lists, physical access to servers, office and building
- Oversee hardware support of phone network and video conferencing system
- Support the delivery of cost-effective communication solutions for travelling staff
- Assist with a review of our IT operations
 
The successful candidate will be committed to work voluntarily, two or three days a week for approximately six months.

For more information and to apply for this role, visit http://www.opportunity.org.au/getinvolved/volunteer.aspx

Volunteer Programs and Investment Analyst 

Working with the Investment Services Director, the main responsibilities for the Volunteer Programs and Investment Analyst will include supporting portfolio analysis and field partner reporting. They will also:
- Review trends and identify issues; assist Donor Services in reporting to donors
- Project manage the completion of our online partner database
- Work on capturing and presenting social performance information on field partners
- Assist in maintaining investment partnership records, including board minutes and new partnership, debt and equity agreements
- Offer research support into industry issues as required
- Assist with oversight of stability, access, data quality and information flow of knowledge management systems

The successful candidate will be committed to work voluntarily, two or three days a week for approximately five months.

For more information and to apply for this role, visit http://www.opportunity.org.au/getinvolved/volunteer.aspx

The village on the outskirts of Varanasi can only be described by pictures. It comprised of mud huts with dirt floors, straw as bed, basic agriculture and animals everywhere – even in the bedrooms. I felt like I had walked into the stables where Jesus was born! The only resemblance of the 21st Century were mobile phones and one florescent light bulb!

We were visiting this village with Cashpor, Opportunity International Australia’s microfinance partner in Varanasi. Cashpor serves women living in extreme poverty, in one of the poorest states of India – Uttar Pradesh. The state’s population exceeds 180 million which includes more than 90 million people living on less than $2 per day. In most cases, the women that Cashpor serves are making less than A$1 per day.

We sat down in a community group meeting and the level of excitement was high. The first thing the women did was sign their name on the loan register. These women are illiterate, yet Cashpor has taken the time to teach every one of them to sign their own name – no finger print; no X; but their own name. This seems insignificant to us, yet for the women of this village it represents dignity and empowerment.

This year Cashpor is launching a new service focused on community health. Opportunity is supporting this initiative. Microfinance is more than lending, it’s about helping communities to prosper in a number of ways.

You can help by providing a donation of just $200 to help women like this to educate their children and to progress out of poverty. Click here to donate today.

Stephen Robertson
Opportunity International Australia
www.opportunity.org.au

This means many isolated villages – where many people live in poverty – have limited access to financial services, creating many difficulties for people when managing what little finances they have. They tend to keep their money in unsafe places, such as around their home or hidden in holes.

Opportunity International Australia’s microfinance partner in West Timor, Tanaoba Lais Manekat (TLM) is working to increase access to financial services for the poor in West Timor through a pilot program using mobile ‘banking vans’. The specially designed vans travel to strategic locations in remote areas (such as markets), offering access to savings and loans for people who live out of reach of TLM’s standard microfinance branches.

The vans play educational videos, teaching the importance of savings and addressing local issues, and the project will also see a number of Electronic Delivery Channels (similar to EFTPOS machines) placed with loan officers or in strategically selected locations so that locals can deposit and withdraw money easily. So far, the vans have taken deposits from 219 clients like Amos (pictured).

Amos’ Story
In an isolated area of West Timor, Amos supports his wife Yumince and their three children, Gerson, Dorancy and Leni, with a small farm of just 30x30 metres. Totally dependent on the plot of land, Amos’ income fluctuates throughout the year. Sometimes there isn’t enough money to afford the basics, like food, while a well next to his bamboo house only supplies water during the wet season. At other times, Amos has to walk a kilometre to fetch water from a spring.

Poverty is a reality for Amos and his family, but microfinance is helping him break the cycle. He has recently opened a savings account with TLM’s mobile banking van (pictured), and is putting money away to ensure that he always has enough money to feed his family. So far he’s saved Rp.15,000 (A$1.65) – not a lot in Australia, but for someone who has never had the ability to save before – this savings account symbolises a world of new opportunity and security.

If you would like to help make a lasting difference in the life of someone like Amos, you can support Opportunity’s programs here, or, if you would like to learn more about microfinance and how Opportunity provides small loans and support services to people living in poverty, please click here.