Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Spring 2007 : Congratulations 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Win
Congratulations 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winners Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank
Joining the chorus of thousands worldwide, Grameen Foundation (GF) congratulates Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, co-recipients of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. GF also extends thanks to the thousands of friends who supported Muhammad Yunus’ dream through the years and have brought us closer to a world free of poverty.
The award has offered the microfinance industry and those seeking an end to poverty an extraordinary opportunity. With increased access to capital, technical support, and technology, GF is helping its network of partners scale up to become the next generation of Grameen Banks.
More than 2,100 people from 150 countries sent messages to Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank through our Web site, including Senator Hillary Clinton who said that the beneficial impact of microfinance projects on low-income women and their families continues to inspire her.
“When I started with Grameen Bank, a colleague asked what I thought about it. I said it seemed like “Aladdin's lamp” and that Professor Yunus should win the Nobel Prize for his great work. People laughed at me for this idea. We [at Grameen Bank] were
underestimated and not welcomed by local elites or so-called intellectuals because we were working for a neglected portion of the community. For the last 10 years I have checked the Nobel Prize Web site. Today our work has been recognized. This decision
obviously honors and recognizes the 100 million microcredit clients' work all over the world. I am also proud as a Bangaldeshi, a country that has created an example in the world in poverty alleviation.
–Nurul Alam, former Grameen Bank Branch Manager and Grameen Foundation
Manager of Technical Support
We would like to express our deep gratitude to you and Grameen Bank… The worldwide recognition of your personal efforts and the achievements of the Grameen Bank in bringing innovative financial solutions to the global poor will boost support to all of
us engaged in this mission. –enda inter-arabe, Grameen Foundation partner in Tunisia
Microcredit is an innovative concept that marries compassion for the poor with personal empowerment. It is people like you who inspire the rest of us to turn our thoughts into actions. –Anna Kinard, United States
Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Spring 2007 : Congratulations 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Win
Grameen Foundation uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world's poorest people. With tiny loans and financial services, we help the poor, mostly women, start businesses and escape poverty. Our global network of 55 microfinance institution (MFI) partners including our Growth Guarantee partners has touched more than 34 million people in 24 countries. In addition, we introduced and now sustain technology initiatives (Mifos and Village Phone) in Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, bringing our total country outreach to 28.
+1-202-628-3560 www.grameenfoundation.org
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