Fall 2008   Grameen Foundation E-newsletter

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In this issue Take Action to Defeat Poverty GF Joins New Call for Transparency  Village Phone in Indonesia  CARD Awarded  2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service   Author Donates Book Proceeds to GF Breaking New Ground in Peru and Nigeria    Can Profit and Poverty Alleviation Co-exist?

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World Poverty Day Take Action to Defeat Poverty It’s the one day of the year that the world will stop and pay attention. On October 17, 2008, Grameen Foundation, alongside millions of others around world, will join the United Nations to call attention to the devastation of global poverty. Join us. More Asia GF Joins New Call to Safeguard Microfinance Clients GF President Alex Counts joined Muhammad Yunus in a call for greater transparency in microfinance-a move aimed to increase access to financial services for millions of the world's poor. More Philippines  CARD Awarded  2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service  GF Philippines partner CARD has been awarded the 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. The Magsaysay Award is often considered the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. More Americas Loan Guarantee Program in Peru and Nigeria Broadens Access to Services for Poor  Millions of dollars in joint transaction loans from Grameen Foundation and local institutions will allow MFIs to reach more of the rural poor. More

Indonesia Village Phone Program Launches in Indonesia  Rural and underprivileged areas of Indonesia that have been "left behind" by technology will gain access through the new Village Phone Indonesia program.  More    Donor Spotlight: Jon Gillespie Brown Jon Gillespie Brown answered a simple question: How can I make a difference? When publisher Wiley & Company asked him to write a book, Jon Gillespie Brown saw it as an opportunity to make a unique contribution to society. More Read Jon's blog contribution to Creating a World Without Poverty   Reader Poll: Voice Your Opinion Can Profit and Poverty Alleviation Co-exist? You tell us! A swirling debate continues in the microfinance community about whether microfinance institutions (MFIs) can be financially successful while remaining true to their mission of alleviating poverty. In "Reimagining Microfinance" (Stanford Social Innovation Review; Summer 2008), Grameen Foundation president Alex Counts says MFIs can achieve both if they view microfinance as a platform for delivering services and not just as a product. What is your view? Can MFIs turn a profit without sacrificing their commitment to reaching the poor? Do you think a profit-driven company is truly better suited to reach the poorest of the poor? Tell us!