Every June 20th, World Refugee Day serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience inherent in those forced to leave their homes. At Opportunity International, we deeply honor this resilience.
Refugees, by their very nature, embody profound courage and adaptability, overcoming immense hardships to seek safety, stability, and a fresh start. Our mission is to stand alongside them—providing training, support, and access to critical financial resources to ensure their resilience translates into sustainable, prosperous futures.
The Global Refugee Crisis Today
The global refugee situation remains urgent, with over 34 million refugees around the world. Particularly in places like Central Africa and Venezuela, ongoing instability has displaced millions. Countries like Colombia and Uganda have become major hosts for these populations seeking refuge and opportunity amidst severe upheaval.
In Colombia, millions have been displaced, including over 3 million Venezuelan refugees fleeing economic instability and hardship. These individuals often find themselves excluded from formal economic and social support systems, relying instead on an informal economy that lacks traditional safety nets such as banking, stable employment, and healthcare.
Supporting Refugees in Colombia Through Financial Inclusion
Opportunity International addresses these gaps through innovative initiatives like our Graduation Program in Cartagena. This intensive initiative equips refugees and local families living on less than $2 a day with tools for long-term economic stability, including financial literacy training, seed capital for new businesses, mentorship, and community connections.
In August 2024, our first Colombian cohort celebrated their graduation—a powerful testament to their strength, determination, and newfound economic independence.
The program’s intensive 18-month programming afforded the participants a chance to build new livelihoods intentionally, enabling some of the communities most vulnerable a chance to thrive—including women like Vanessa, a refugee from Venezuela.
Vanessa’s story captures the profound impact of these targeted efforts. After fleeing Venezuela seeking healthcare for her ailing son, Vanessa encountered a society filled with barriers. Connecting with Opportunity’s savings groups opened doors she never imagined. As part of the Graduation Program, Vanessa received community support, critical financial training, and livelihood assistance that allowed her to start her own thriving business.
Graduates of last year’s program saw incredible lifestyle and sustainability changes—more than 80% of participants saw their incomes grow, their savings expand, and their families eating three times a day.
Today, Vanessa lives in stability, reunified with her family, fully engaged with her community, and economically self-sufficient. Her story exemplifies the potential unlocked when refugees receive the support they need to harness their inherent resilience and determination.
Creating Opportunity in Uganda’s Nakivale Refugee Settlement
Across the ocean, Uganda hosts Africa’s largest refugee population, with the Nakivale Refugee Settlement home to 180,000 displaced individuals from South Sudan, Congo, Burundi, and beyond. Opportunity International’s approach in Nakivale has transformed the settlement into a vibrant economic hub, creating pathways to independence and self-reliance for thousands.
Through our specific work tailored to this population, refugees in Nakivale gain financial literacy training, access essential banking services via Opportunity Bank Uganda, and benefit from targeted youth employment initiatives.
Entrepreneurs in Nakivale like Samuel exemplify the transformative impact of our programming. Facing health issues due to Nakivale’s poor air quality, Samuel started a tree nursery to improve the local environment and provide nutritional food. With Opportunity’s support, he gained vital business skills, secured seed capital, and now employs four people who manage seedling care, business records, marketing, and community education. Samuel regularly follows up with customers to ensure the seedlings thrive, fostering job creation and environmental awareness within the community.
Impact in Numbers: How Opportunity International Supports Refugees
Opportunity International’s refugee programs are making a real difference for families working to rebuild their lives. In Uganda, here’s what that impact looks like so far:
- 31,000+ refugees and local hosts reached through financial inclusion programs
- 16,700+ individual and group savings accounts opened
- 3,000 business loans disbursed
- 722 jobs created or improved
Why These Programs Work: Addressing Barriers Refugees Face
Programs like these are specifically effective for refugees because they directly address the unique barriers they face: economic exclusion, lack of access to traditional financial services, and limited community support structures. Financial literacy training, seed capital infusions, and community support help refugees launch or expand businesses and create an environment where they can lay groundwork for enduring self-reliance and prosperity.
On World Refugee Day, We Reaffirm Our Commitment
As we recognize World Refugee Day, we remain inspired by the extraordinary resilience displayed by people like Vanessa and Samuel. Their stories drive home the importance of our commitment: providing targeted support, inclusive financial services, and comprehensive training that enable refugees to harness their innate strengths and build prosperous lives.
*To respect their privacy, the individual(s) featured in this story are not pictured.
