Muhammad Yunus has shown
himself to be a leader who has managed to translate visions into practical
action for the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh, but also
in many other countries. Loans to poor people without any financial security
had appeared to be an impossible idea. From modest beginnings three decades
ago, Yunus has, first and foremost through Grameen Bank, developed micro-
credit into an ever more important instrument in the struggle against poverty.
Grameen Bank has been a source of ideas and models for the many institutions
in the field of micro-credit that have sprung up around the world.
Every single individual on earth has both the potential and the right to live
a decent life. Across cultures and civilizations, Yunus and Grameen Bank have
shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own
development.
Micro-credit has proved to be an important liberating force in societies where
women in particular have to struggle against repressive social and economic
conditions. Economic growth and political democracy can not achieve their full
potential unless the female half of humanity participates on an equal footing
with the male.
Yunus's long-term vision is to eliminate poverty in the world. That vision can
not be realised by means of micro-credit alone. But Muhammad Yunus and Grameen
Bank have shown that, in the continuing efforts to achieve it, micro-credit
must play a major part."
I'm interested in people who have strategies to change the world? Often these
people go unnoticed for many years. I'd like to notice them. Who do you know
who is changing the world?
Source:
press release for the 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize
Read more about the
Grameen Bank
and
Muhammad
Yunus
.