We are excited to welcome celebrated singer and performer Heather Small MBE to Opportunity International as an ambassador.

Heather's support marks an exciting moment for Opportunity. We are incredibly grateful that she is using her voice, platform and time to help raise awareness of our work, creating transformative opportunities for people living in poverty across sub-Saharan Africa.

About Heather

Heather is best known as the iconic voice of M People, whose chart-topping hits include ‘Moving On Up’ and ‘Search for the Hero’. The band sold more than 10 million albums and received numerous accolades, including BRIT Awards and the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Heather currently enjoys a successful solo career, with her inspirational anthem ‘Proud’ becoming one of her most celebrated songs.

Throughout her career, Heather's music has inspired audiences around the world with messages of resilience, empowerment and hope. These themes closely reflect Opportunity's mission and the journeys of the individuals and communities we serve.

Heather and Opportunity

Heather often spends time in Ghana and, during her visits, she became aware of the thousands of young women and girls working as kayayei (head porters). The work is physically demanding and unstable, providing only a small income and leaving many women and girls vulnerable to exploitation and hardship.

Moved by the challenges they faced, Heather wanted to support an organisation that was creating meaningful opportunities for these young women. This led her to Opportunity.

Heather travelled to Ghana to see our work first-hand. She met with local partners and several women who had graduated from our four-week vocational training programme for vulnerable young women and girls working as kayayei. Listening to their stories, Heather saw the transformational impact of the programme and how it had helped them build confidence, develop new skills and achieve greater financial independence.

Graduates leave the programme equipped with vocational skills, a business start-up kit and seed capital to establish their own businesses, helping them generate sustainable incomes and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Heather says, "It is my honour and privilege to be working with Opportunity International UK. Having seen the work first-hand, I am delighted to support such life-changing programmes."

Opportunity International UK Chief Executive, Mary Oakes, said “I am thrilled to welcome Heather as ambassador for Opportunity International UK. Her passion and dedication to supporting our work, especially our work in Ghana, will help us raise awareness of the challenges facing women and girls living in poverty, while highlighting the transformational impact of opportunity. Heather’s compassion and commitment to our programmes make her an excellent ambassador, and we look forward to working together to empower even more women to build sustainable businesses, support their families and realise their potential.”

Looking Ahead

We are proud to welcome Heather as an ambassador and grateful for her commitment to championing opportunities for women striving to build brighter futures. Together, we hope to inspire greater awareness, support and action, enabling even more women and families to unlock their potential.

We look forward to all that we can achieve through this exciting partnership.

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