Ultra-Poverty Graduation in Colombia: Pathways to Opportunities Your Impact Report, Fall 2025 During this time of global change—including economic uncertainty, natural disasters, and, in some places, great strife—our neighbors in Colombia continue to inspire. Opportunity International’s Ultra-Poverty Graduation program—called Pathways to Opportunities in Colombia—enables previously overlooked families to work their way out of extreme poverty—thanks to determination, deep faith, and access to support. EXPANDING OUR REACH The Graduation program offers a long-term solution whereby families living below even the extreme poverty mark of two dollars a day—truly living in subsistence mode—receive support to secure food; start one or two income-generating businesses; learn basic financial skills; mentorship; community linkages; and job skills—support that will pave a holistic, viable path out of poverty. Called Pathways to Opportunities in Colombia, the Graduation program served an inaugural cohort of 250 families, currently reaches 500 families in the second cohort, and plans to launch a third cohort of 250 families this fall. Thanks to your support, families previously unable to meet their basic needs now earn and save, enjoying a more stable living situation and planning for bright futures.
Even the youngest family members benefit from Opportunity International’s comprehensive programming.
Proven impact: Our model is effective, in part due to its foundation in our proven three-pronged approach of extending access to training, financial services, and group support. The inaugral cohort in Cartagena, Colombia—one of the few Graduation programs focused on an urban community—resulted in measurable improvements in living conditions. To graduate, participants had to achieve significant improvements from their initial conditions. Results included: • Food security: 93% consumed 3 meals a day on average—up from only 9 families at the start • Ecomonimc resilience: 107% increase in average monthly household income and 91% exceeded Cartagena’s extreme poverty line • Health: 100% of the families enrolled in health service • Education: 92% of out-of-school children returned to school • Community connections: 93% of families have achieved greater confidence and autonomy, which helps them to have greater community participation
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