Nobel Peace Laureate and former Chief Advisor to the caretaker government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has received the prestigious ‘Hillary Rodham Clinton Award’. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the award to him at a ceremony held at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. on Thursday (October 15), local time in the United States.
According to a press release issued on Friday, approximately 400 guests, including ambassadors from about 25 countries, entrepreneurs, teachers, and researchers, attended the event held at Gaston Hall of the university. After Dr. Yunus’s name was announced, the attendees stood up and applauded for a long time to honor him.
This year, a total of four individuals, including Dr. Yunus, were honored with this award. The other recipients are Rima Nanavaty, Director of India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA); Tory Burch, fashion designer and founder of the Tory Burch Foundation; and Muna Sukhtian, Board Chair of Jordan’s Microfund for Women. Muna Sukhtian received the special ‘Georgetown Ambassadors Award’.
Praising Dr. Yunus’s work at the event, Hillary Clinton stated that she herself had witnessed the operations of Grameen Bank. She remarked that it was extraordinary how women, through this bank, have become self-reliant, secured their safety, and become empowered. She also noted that Dr. Yunus’s work was not limited to women in Bangladesh but had spread worldwide.
In his speech after receiving the award, Dr. Yunus highlighted the completion of 50 years of his work. He said that this award is a recognition of their five decades of work. He expressed hope that this event at Georgetown University would send an important message to Bangladesh and inspire members of the Grameen family.
Yunus Highlights Women’s Empowerment Through Microcredit
Highlighting Grameen Bank’s role in poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment, Dr. Yunus said that microcredit has created opportunities for people in extreme poverty to become self-reliant. Special emphasis has been placed on women, enabling them to utilize their capabilities to improve their families’ financial conditions and take responsibility for themselves.
He stated that significant changes have occurred in families receiving assistance through Grameen Bank. Women who once hesitated to speak for themselves are now confidently articulating their problems and needs. These women are the owners of Grameen Bank and are operating the bank themselves.
Regarding the employment of borrowers’ children, Dr. Yunus said that young people must move beyond the mentality of merely seeking jobs. They should repeatedly be told, ‘We are not job seekers, we are job creators.’ He emphasized the importance of establishing businesses through their own initiative to create employment.
Emphasis on Social Business
Elaborating on the concept of social business, Dr. Yunus stated that the primary goal of such businesses is not to achieve personal profit, but to solve social problems. In the healthcare sector, social business funds are being used to help establish hospitals, health centers, and eye hospitals in various areas. He mentioned that the surplus funds from these institutions are reinvested back into the healthcare sector.
Criticizing the current education system, Dr. Yunus said that it should focus on developing young people into creative and entrepreneurial individuals rather than merely job seekers. The role of universities should not only be to grant degrees but also to create an environment for fostering entrepreneurs.
To achieve this goal, he expressed hope for launching ‘Grameen University’ by the end of this year.
Dr. Yunus stated that Grameen University could lead the initiative to build a ‘world of three zeros.’ At this university, students will be encouraged to become entrepreneurs rather than just chasing certificates. He also outlined plans to ensure necessary funding and other support for starting businesses.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed optimism, referring to this initiative as a new beginning in the field of education.
Source: BSS