Feature

Meeting microcredit mentor

Sabhanaz Rashid Diya

MICROFINANCE has spread like wildfire globally since Professor Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It has evolved to a much demanded classroom topic and an internship with Grameen Bank or any Grameen project has become an exciting, desirable opportunity. So, when ten students from Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) were selected to attend the Yunus Centre Forum II on 16 March this year, it was not surprising to find the group bubbling with anticipation.

Earlier in March, the Yunus Centre opened applications for undergraduate and graduate students to attend its Forum. As news spread, many students from different universities grabbed the opportunity and nearly 50 were selected to attend the event. The Yunus Centre Forum II promised to be engaging and innovative with networking opportunities and an up close session with the Nobel Laureate.

On an exceptionally sunny afternoon, Grameen Bank Headquarters in Mirpur ushered 50 or so murmuring youngsters into its premises. The ground floor flaunted a mini museum with photos depicting microfinance success stories and Professor Yunus' achievements, including footages from the proud moment in Oslo. Sprightly interns and staff from the Yunus Centre welcomed us to the Forum. After a short introduction, the floor opened to a game of 'BINGO!' which served as the perfect fun filled ice breaking session for the participants. This was followed by a video footage on how microfinance conceptualized into a ground breaking phenomenon and changed lives worldwide.

Lamiya Morshed (Executive Director, Yunus Centre at Grameen Bank) next, gave a talk on Grameen's Social Business Plan and how it can be implemented. The idea combined entrepreneurship with the need for social impact, and has already given optimistic results, as demonstrated by the Grameen-Danone partnership and its product, Shakti Yoghurt. The yoghurt claims to contain all the important nutrients for a child and if taken regularly for 8 months, can resolve the problem of malnutrition in the child. Her presentation elaborated on various social business projects that Grameen has undertaken, and later, opened the floor for a Q&A session.

Amidst a heated ballgame of questions and answers, Professor Yunus took the podium. It truly was an awe inspiring moment. He was a phenomenal speaker who deserved reverence and as the story of Grameen, optimism and struggle unfolded, the auditorium was caught in pin drop silence. After an hour, when the Q&A session finally began, it was not surprising to find several hands raised and a fire of inquisitive questions. Followed shortly by a tea break, the Forum was just beginning to get interesting!

Unfortunately, due to an unexpected time crunch, the final two sessions (where students would have been divided into groups to discuss a social business solution to an international concern and present their case) were cancelled and the Forum had to end. Students were invited to visit the museum and other facilities, and as the inspired lot poured out of the elevators towards the exit, we came to realize how insightful the experience has been. Yunus Centre looks forward to making the Forum an annual event, so be sure to keep your search engines perked up for the next big opportunity!

(The author is a sophomore at the Dept. of Media & Communication at Independent University Bangladesh and a member of AIESEC in IUB.)