DHAKA, Bangladesh – Muhammed Yunus, the Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the founder of the Grameen Bank, is taking on a leading role within advocacy to end global poverty. It has been one of Yunus’s lifelong goals to reduce global poverty around the world, for within his lifetime he would like to see an end to poverty and the means of recovery within third world countries.
Muhammed Yunus advocates for economic and social opportunities within society today, and travels around the world speaking to a variety of individuals on his hopes and dreams to see an end to global poverty. For his efforts to help those in need, Yunus has become a true advocate through his dedication and work with individuals in need within third world countries. His advocacy has become well know throughout the world, and has been rewarded by numerous individuals. Some of his highest awards include the Nobel Peace Prize, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. Yunus is the only individual in history to have received all three of these awards and honors.
As a young man, Yunus had a passion for helping those in need. He wished to see an end to global poverty and decided to take on a large project in hopes that he would make a difference in the world. As a young entrepreneur and advocate, Muhammed Yunus founded the Grameen Bank. This micro finance organization was developed in the heart of Bangladesh, and has become known as a successful community development program. This bank was established to help provide loans for those who were too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans, so these individuals and entrepreneurs would have an equal opportunity to succeed.
Today, the Grameen Bank has over 8.4 million borrowers, and 96 percent of them are women. The bank is thriving for it has a 97 percent return rate, and millions of individuals are becoming self supporting within society today. Yunus’s approach to defeating global poverty is different from the goals and missions of non-profit organizations, for he has attempted to solve the problem by establishing a business to help those in need. Instead of providing unreturned help to those in need, Yunus believes that by providing a loan, individuals are able to go out into the world and become independent within the society they live. Then once they become successful and are on their feet, they are then able to return the funds to the bank which helped them to succeed.
Yunus is also an advocate in gender equality, for he has broken down the gender barriers which surround much of society within Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank deals directly with women, helping to provide them with loans so they may also go out into society and become independent without the help of a man. The bank helps women how to learn how to deal with finances and helps them to become confident when dealing with financial situations. Yunus has helped several women thrive within Bangladesh, for many have become very successful thanks to his help and opportunity for equality.
Overall, Muhammed Yunus has taken the lead by helping those in need escape the grasp of poverty. Today, Yunus travels around the world to speak on this topic and to spread awareness and advocacy. Through the Grameen Bank and through his public speeches, Yunus has helped millions to become aware of the change needed within the world we live in today, and is taking the leading role by becoming a first hand advocate to end global poverty. As Yunus has stated, “All you need to change the world is an idea, not money,” he said. “If you imagine, it will happen.”
– Grace Beal
Sources: Muhammad Yunus, MIT, Opinionator
Photo: Acumen