What compels us to give our time and money away? Is it because we’re nice people, or we’re trying to be better people? Is it because we’re grateful for what we have and want to share it? Or is it faith or values that motivate our giving?
There are a number of reasons why we give, and whatever your reason is for supporting us or even just reading this, we are grateful.
Without the generous donations of Opportunity International UK’s supporters, we wouldn’t be able to achieve the impact we have. As we celebrate 50 years of our charity, we asked some of our UK supporters why they donate to Opportunity - why do they care about people living in poverty overseas? What is it that makes them give their money and support to our work? Perhaps you align with what they’ve shared…
This response from an anonymous supporter, who has been donating to us for more than 25 years, captures the heart of Opportunity:
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day—if you teach him to fish, you feed him for many days. As a Christian I believe this principle is the best way. The person is given respect, and offered means to improve their lives, not just getting a hand out, which soon disappears. When successful they return their cash loan, so the next person can benefit. This gives them respect in the community.
Opportunity teaches responsibility and satisfaction in being able to help another person. Sadly there is still a great need for such help. I see no reason to stop donating.
What interests you in our work? Maybe there are key themes or ideas that you are particularly interested in. Is it our work with entrepreneurial women and girls across Africa, or our digital financial service projects with refugees in Uganda? Whether it’s improving education, agricultural finance or microfinance in general, perhaps you like Opportunity International UK because you’ve got something in common with our clients. Just like Trevor, who is a farmer and has been supporting our work for four years. Trevor donates to Opportunity because he identifies with our agricultural programmes:
I know the challenges that farmers face. We receive a lot of support in the UK in a way that farmers in Africa don’t. I know that a little can go a long way in the right hands in Africa. I trust Opportunity International to help people with the support they need.
For Peter, who has supported us for over 10 years, it’s the loans and financial independence we enable that attracted him to Opportunity:
I like that Opportunity International is supporting individuals with loans to set up businesses and get them on their feet financially. I like the concept of helping individuals to move out of poverty into a meaningful, useful, successful and secure future. I hope that others join in and support Opportunity International.
Our supporters are passionate about our work and really care about the people we serve. Do you want to find out what it is about our work that gets people excited to be part of it? We’d love for you to join us at an Introduction to Opportunity Event. A short, online, no-strings-attached webinar where you’ll meet our CEO, hear from our Director of Programmes and listen to stories from the field.
Here are some more ways you can join our community of supporters:
We are so thankful for the committed support of people like Peter and Trevor and hundreds more. It’s the loyalty of our supporters who will carry us forward for another 50 years of Opportunity.