Professor Sabir's Posse

Tracey Lee
201B 23075
MW 1-2.50pm
Microcredit is a loan of small amount of money at low interest rate.
In Half the Sky, Nick writes, “Muhammad Yunus, the ebullient Bangladeshi professor who much later won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering microfinance. Yunus wasn’t famous then, but he was attracting interest in development circles for starting Grameen Bank, which championed loans for poor women” (188). Muhammed Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank had a vision to help women out of poverty. Disillusion with teaching economics in a Bangladesh university, and the sufferings around him, he went to the grassroots to help the poor. After an evaluation of the grassroots’ circumstances, he ventured into a revolutionary banking system. Yunus and his team, go to the villagers to dispense loans based on mutual trust of no collateral and no legal paperwork. To make it convenient for the villages, the loans were repaid in tiny amounts. Ninety-five percent of the loans were repaid in full. Yunus was elated that microcredit has transformed woman by according them self-confidence, a voice in making family decisions and respect in the community.

Nick illustrates another success story in Kashf Foundation, a spinoff from the Grameen Bank success. “Roshaneh spent ten weeks there, studying the work of Grameen” (189). Roshaneh Zafar, a Pakistani graduate woman who wanted to make a difference in the world. She apprenticed under Yunus for ten weeks before returning to Pakistan to initiate her own microcredit business. It was a slow start for Roshaneh as women were gripped by fear and tradition. Credit worthiness was based on one’s spending habit in grocery stores and repayment of utility bills. Women who took the loan were put in a group of twenty-five as a support system for each other. “Finally, Kashf had a system in which virtually 100 percent of loans were repaid in full – if not by the borrower, then by other members of the group” (190).

Nick asserts that family needs does not take precedence over alcohol, prostitutes, and candy in man’s spending pattern. “In contrast to the profligate spending on sugar and alcohol, the most impoverished families on the globe appear to spend about 2 percent of their incomes educating their children, even though that is the most reliable escalator out of poverty” (193). Both Nick and Yunus holds the belief that woman is the key to change the world. “When women command greater power, child health and nutrition improves” (194).

Works Cited
Kristof, Nicholas, and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,
2009. Print.
 

Rick Myers
Professor Sabir
English 201B – 1 – 2:50pm
5 March 2010
Mohammad Yunus and the Miracle of Microcredit
In the mid 1970’s there was a massive famine in Bangladesh. During this time a local economist professor in Dhaka was becoming painfully aware of the situation. Mohammad Yunus was appalled at what was happening in his native country and decided to do something about it. As our book reads, “Muhammad Yunus, the ebullient Bangladeshi professor who much later won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering microfinance,” (188) was not famous yet but soon would be. Mohammed started out with a group of 42 people who he loaned a moderate $27 dollars to start small businesses with at a shocking 100 percent repayment rate. This was the beginning of Grameen Bank.
“In place after place, markets and microlending are proving a powerful system to help people help themselves.” This could not be illustrated any better than by the story of Saima Muhammad. Saima had a horrible life, filled with beatings from her husband and male relatives as well as scorn from the female side of her family. With an unemployable, deadbeat husband who was about to take a second wife, (to have a boy, they only had girls) Saima was at her wit’s end. Then she found out about the Kashf Foundation which was started by Roshaneh Zafar upon inspiration from Muhammad Yunu’s work. Saima took a $65 dollar loan from Kashf, purchased supplies for embroidery and started a fledgling business which took off. Now, Saima is the breadwinner of the household and of course her husband and relatives see her in a different light. “Now everyone comes to me to borrow money, the same ones who used to criticize me,” Saima says. (186) It’s ironic and a bit entertaining to see how things turned around for Saima and her family, but this illustrates a good point. Muhammad Yunus made the right decision.
Grameen Bank now has an over 95% repayment rate and loans more than one million dollars a day. This is all done without collateral, and mostly to women. “One reason microloans are always made to women, rather than to men, is that females tend to suffer the most from poverty.” Not only that, but the statistics don’t lie. Women spend more on their children’s education and sustenance. Whereas men generally spend more on gratification such as prostitutes, alcohol, and sweets. These statistics however do mostly focus on the poorest regions of these areas. Empowerment is a very effective tool when supplied to those that really need it.
Works Cited
Kristof, Nicholas, and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print
 

Sareth Chhoth
Professor Sabir
English 201A MW 10-12
7 March 2010

Microcredit
In class we watch the New Heroes video about Muhammad Yunas who developed microcredit in Bangladesh. In the video he gave people who were in need of money a small loan without collateral. He expected them to repay the small loan so that later they can build a trust and give larger loans out. He also wanted to give out those loans to the women. The reason why he wanted to give the loans to the women was to help them in their struggle and empower them.
By giving loans to the women in the family, they can provide necessary things for the whole family and not get beat by their own husband. Zohra Bibi states, “Now women earn money and so their husbands respect them more” (Half the Sky 188). If the women of the families earn more money than the husband, the husband cannot beat them because the women threaten not to get the loans. This helps the women a lot. Some even become successful after the loans that they take out.
Microcredit really helps the women who are in need. There are other organizations that support the idea of microcredit to women just like Grameen Bank. These organizations want to help women realize that they have more strength than they realize. If they realize it than they can help themselves from being abused.
Works Cited
Kristof D., Nicholas and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.
 

Sonry Chhoth
Professor Sabir
English 201A MW 10-1150
7 March 2010

Saima Muhammad's family was in debt and they were poor. She didn't bear any sons and her husband's mother suggested that her husband get a second wife to bear a son. Saima worried about their financial issues so she joined the Kashf Foundation. She took out a loan of $65 and bought beads and cloth. She made an embroidery and sold it. She began a business and became successful. Saima's mother-in-law says, "Saima is bringing so much to this house" (p.186). If women earned money, they would rarely be beaten. They would also send their children to school and thus earn more money.

Nicholas D. Kristof says, "The women return with cash and investment ideas, and over time they earn incomes that make a significant difference in household living standards." With the cash and investment ideas, the women could use the cash and invest in a business and earn money or they could use the money they get to start a small business. Giving women in Pakistan more freedom and loans would help circulate the economy. Like the saying goes, "You have to spend money to make money."

Roshaneh Zafar is a Pakistani woman who was the founder of Kashf. She said, "I didn't want to create wealth for people who were already wealthy." Most of the world's projects are for the wealthy and never get to reach the poorest areas. The people who need money the most do not get any while the rich get richer. Roshaneh became a microfinancier in order to give money to those who really need it.
 

Rosecary Aguinaldo
Professor Sabir
English 201A M/W 10-11:50am
7 March 2010

In class we saw a film called "The New Hereos". It's about a man named Muhammad Yunus. Who is the founder and the managing director of Grameen Bank. He started this organization to help people who are living in poverty. He wanted to provide the people with credit without needing a collateral. In the novel, Nick writes "Muhammad Yunus, the ebullient Bangladeshi professor...which championed loans for poor women"(188). developed micro-credit in believing that it will help the people living in poor conditions.

In the novel Half the Sky, it talks about a woman named Saima Muhammad, who was being beaten by her husband and her brother-in-law because she can't do anything right. However, everything changes for Saima when she joined a solidarity group for women that is affiliated with a Pakistani micro-finance called Kashf Foundation. She took out a loan of $65 and transformed it into a beautiful embroidery that she sells in the market. Now her small business has allowed her to earn a solid income. Saima states "Now everyone comes to me to borrow money, the same ones who used to criticize me" (188). This shows that how it is ironically amusing that people who doubted Saima before are now asking for help.

With Muhammad Yunus successful Grameen Family of Organization. It gives hope to people who wants to start a new and help up bring their lives. Through his perseverance and his organization it has helped tons of women financially and as well as emotionally. It has given them the courage to stand up on their own feet and depend on themselves. Women now realizes that they are capable of doing anything if they just set out their mind and heart to it. As Zohra Bibi states "Now women earn money and so their husbands respect them more" (188). This illustrates that women can do anything and that they are the soul key to change the world.

Works Cited

Kristof, Nicholas, and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,
2009. Print.
 

David Brown

Eng 201a m,w 10-1150

March 8, 2010


Muhammad Yunus began trying to make something of his poor village and ended up making his small town famous. He formed a bank called Grammie (which means village) in which he started giving microcredit. The reason this college teacher started was because, “everything inside his classroom was great but people on the outside were dying which created a gap.” Mr. Yunus started to get involved with the whole community including the woman. Seeing as he’s Muslim he’s not supposed to give the women any kind of power or say so. He did the opposite, although most of them took a while to get involved because of Muslim tradition.

Mr. Yunus felt it was necessary to get the Muslim women involved in these small loans because they are more likely to take care of their family. A lot of people disliked Mr. Yunis because of him giving money to women. They realized they could not stop him so people decided to try and slander him. They talked about how he only helped out mid level living people which made Mr.Yunus respond with an either greater task. He started giving microloans the beggars. The beggars are the poorest of the poor. While most banks required collateral Mr.Yunis’ bank did not so therefore,” there was no payback time for the beggars or any other customer”.

“95 percent of the client’s payback the money loaned”. With the payback rate so high it allowed mr.Yunis to have a large amount of people on staff. He has banks in Chittagong and Bangladesh which staff about 500 people together. Muhammad Yunus believed in his people and im sure his country thanks him for his belief an faith.
 

Sodchimeg Ulziiutas
Professor Wand Sabir
English 201A M,W 10:00-11:50 am
March 8, 2010
The new Heroes

Today we watched movie about Muhammad Yunus who is Nobel prized banker in Bangladesh.
He saw people around poor, suffering from disease, helpless, do not know what to do and most of them do not have enough income to take of their families.
Muhammad Yunus established bank to give the money to women. Bangladesh Revolutionary Banker, more than 25 years ago started loan to poor people. He noticed that if women will have some income then children will benefit from this. In 1970 Professor, who is teaching grand Economics talked to people and find out they need $27 to start. Bank do not loan to poor people. Muhammad Yunus opened Village Bank. Women involvement was not easy. Men didn’t like. They felt insulted. At the beginning women run away from Yunus or his students, but now 95% of the bank borrows are women. Women in the village understood that it will improve their family’s income, their life and children’s education. Small loan and small repayment of the loan increase self steam of these people. Today, Muhammad Yunus’s micro credit system Bank grown up. It counts total 75.000 centers in Bangladesh. They have loan $1.000.000 and 176.000 members. The micro credit system bank became a self standing Bank.
Muhammad Yunus said: “Belief in micro credit, possibilities in human been. Every human been is genius.”
 

Nseke Ngilbus
eng 1b
8-8:50am

Microcredit is a small loan given with an small interest rate. This is considered a revolutionary idea that changes the traditional method of loaning. In taditional laoning establishment pressure is typically on the person who is taking out a loan because they have to pay it back. Whereas, in microcredit, pressure is on the lender because it is uncertain whether they will get their money back. Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize by making a similar system to Microcredit; which was Microfinance. His concept of microFinance is identicle to microcredit, which is to loan alittle amount with little interest. Microfinance was the idea to loan a little to poor women and have a very little interest. "Typically, the women start small, but after they have repaid the first in full they can borrow again, a larger"(nick 188). These loans make women feel important and useful in their community. Women is generally regard as nothing and can not manage money. Microfinance gives women the oppurtunity to handle money and prove to their counterparts that they capable.

It is tremendous the efect that microfinance have on these woemen. Prior to borrowing money, many women do not posses any self worth, but after they borrow money and start their businesses they become extremely self confident. "Saima is now a bit more plump and displays a gold nose ring as well as several other ring and bracelet on each wrist. She dresses well and exudes self-confidence as she offers a grand tour of her home and work place"(nick 187). In turn, one way to help improverish women around the world is to help them through Microfinance. Because it makes them feel more confident and this is the first step to change.

Microfinance is system that women heavily dominate because of their tendencies. "several studies suggest that when woman gain contro; over spending, less family money is devoted to instant grattication and more for education and starting a business"(nick 192). Esssentially more money needs to be given to the women of the house, rather trhan the men, because women spend better than men.

Works Cited
Kristof, Nicholas, and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print
 

Monique West
Professor Sabir
English 201B
MW 1-2:50pm

The video that we watched in class was about Muhammad Yunus. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi professor that won the Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering microfinance in the year of 2006. In 'Half The Sky' it was stated that, "Yunus wasnt famous then, but he was attracting interest in development circles for starting Grameen Bank, which championed loans for poor women" (188). Yunus was known all around for his good work and endless efforts. He would stop at nothing to help others, and this was only the beginning.

Muhammed named his bank Gameen Bank, and soon got women involved. All he wanted to do was give people who had nothing, something. Muhammad's main goal was to give the poor a better chance to live and survive. In the video Muhammad said, "I wanted to create a panic in this unjust system." He couldn't understand why baby taxis cost two hundred fifty thousand, yet the poor weren't given the opportunity to earn that much.

But along with his good deeds came bad critism. Some people would say his "interest rates were too high" while others complained about him using this all for self benefit. Day after day, he would hear things like this, but he would simple shrug it off. He realized that they were missing the point; the entire purpose of the bank itself. So instead of dwelling on the negative, he continued to expand his purpose, along with his 500 self-sustaining staff members
 

Neil Chu

English 201A mon wed 10- 12

Professor Sabrir

In class today we watched a inspiring film “new heroes”. This segment of the film discussed a man named Muhammad Yunus. He was considered rich to the village where he stayed and knew with his money he could make a difference. . He formed a bank called Grammie (which means village) in which he started giving microcredit. While other banks denied poor people loans because they probably would not be able to pay it back, Yunus gave loans to these people. Women were denied loans because they were woman received loans from Yunus’s bank.

Yunus felt that giving to the poor, these people would make something more of themselves. Many muslims disagreed with Yunus, but were unable to do anything. Latter he would give to the people who he knew could not pay him back, this shocked people. Most people payed him back, those who could not were left alone and were no harassed. He opened more banks since and is on a mission to help those who are really in need.
 

Mo Dabashi
Mon/ wed
10-12

New Heroes: Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus help so many women who are really poor. He would go from village to village at women’s houses to make it easier to show them they could get the help they need. He loaned out money , and he made it reasonable in giving the money back and that’s when they made money when they started to work to provide for their selves and family they would return it. Then women started taking bigger loans to come more successful and help them with their business. “Microfinance has been exceptionally successful in parts of Asia…”(Chp 11 pgs 191).

The women started to feel confident and have power n there selves, men were insulted about how women were making money and they didn’t. more and more women increased in working with Muhammad Yunus. In “Half The Sky”, it talked about Saima a lady in Lahore Pakistan married with two girls, and always beaten. She was really poor so she decided to leave her oldest daughter with her auntie. Later she decided to join an organization where she took loan’s to provide for her family and rebuilt her house because it was broken and even have meals everyday to eat. She became successful and started her own business, and brought her daughter back from her auntie because she had enough money to support her family. She dresses better now, and she’s helping other women too. “We have a good relationship”, Saima says.(Chp 11 pgs. 187). She’s been doing well with her husband. Saima is now living her life and being happy woman.

Muhammad Yunus was a successful man who helped women, Microleading has become successful also for women. They became independent and empowered. Both “Half The Sky” and Muhammad had had hard times in the beginning but then it decreased and went well. In the book and New Heroes have the same problems, but in the end everything works out and poverty decreased.