24 November 2011

CityAM, a London-based financial newspaper, launches its first Christmas appeal this week to raise money for Oxford’s microfinance charity Opportunity International’s work in southern Malawi. All individual donations made will be doubled thanks to match funding from the UK Government’s UK Aid fund. Lloyds Banking Group who are long term supporters of Opportunity International are sponsoring the appeal.

Allister Heath, Editor of CityAM explained, “Opportunity International are a natural partner for our first Christmas appeal. They take the best of financial services and adapt them to enable poor people to build small business and grow their savings, escaping poverty by themselves. We think this makes them an attractive proposition for our readers. We’ll feature Opportunity’s work in ten editions of our paper over the next six weeks and on our website. In addition to giving by text, online and by phone, you can join our online appeal auction and bid for some remarkable prizes in the run up to Christmas.”

All funds raised by the appeal will support Opportunity’s microfinance outreach in Southern Malawi where 87% of the population have no access to basic banking services. Over the next 12 months, Opportunity aims to provide financial services and education to 17,000 households in the area.

The appeal is supported by the Government’s UK Aid fund that will match every individual donation pound for pound. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, said: "Opportunity International’s work is changing the lives of some of the poorest people in Malawi, providing them with loans, insurance and savings schemes that give them the chance to invest, to grow small businesses, and to work their way out of poverty.

"By matching public donations to this project pound for pound, we will help Opportunity International double the impact of its work to create jobs and income and provide twice as many people with the life-altering financial services so often out of reach for those in the developing world."

The CityAM Christmas appeal sponsors are Lloyds Banking Group. Truett Tate, Group Executive Director said: “We are extremely proud to be sponsoring this appeal for Opportunity, a charity we have supported since 2007. Opportunity combines business know-how with a passion for serving some of the poorest people in the world. What Opportunity International achieves is banking in its purest, most valuable form – helping to change lives and communities where it’s needed most.”

Edward Fox, CEO at Opportunity International said: “We’ve worked hard with CityAM, UKAid and Lloyds Banking Group to bring you an unique chance to help people in Malawi help themselves out of poverty. At this special time of year, thank you for remembering those who have so little. We will work tirelessly to ensure that your support has a long term impact.”

The CityAM appeal will run until Christmas. The public can give by text, online or by telephone with a credit or debit card. You can find out more details on the CityAM appeal website: www.cityam.com/appeal.