Lima expansion

One of the things that has brought me a lot of joy the past several years is my work on the board of Opportunity International Canada.  This volunteer role took me this week to Lima, Peru where I got to witness round two of a warm partnership that has emerged between our Canadian group and Peruvian partner.  Tonight, following dinner at ancient ruins that predate the Incans, the Peruvian board entered into a formal contract with Opportunity Canada – with the hope that 5,000+ new Peruvian clients will be empowered through microfinance loans by 2010.  Opportunity Canada is committing to raise $2m in new funding to make this a reality.

With this expansion, Opportunity Canada will enable the Peruvians to expand into the eastern cone of Lima, to individuals such as Marisela (seen below).  Marisela lives in a shantytown, perched on the edge of a bone-dry cliff.  No electricity.  No water.  But a lot of faith that will allow her to make ends meet, which takes her from mere survival day-by-day to saving small amounts of her own earned income, and gives her a safety net in a land where there is nothing to rescue you if your life should take a sharp turn for the worse.