Grameen Bank -- Annual report 2006

In order to facilitate better educational opportunities for the children of Grameen members, Grameen Bank launched a scholarship programme for talented students, in 1999.

To encourage schooling of Grameen children, Grameen Bank introduced scholarship programme, so that, children from the poor families stay in school, and complete in both academic and extracurricular activities. Priority is given to girls. In Bangladesh education for girls is generally considered not as important as for boys. Even today, the general attitude of the society is such that women are supposed to take back seats and confine themselves in the role of a housewife after marriage.

At least 50% of the scholarship money must go to girls and the remaining 50% will be given to both boys & girls based on overall performance.

Scholarships are given annually. Up to December, 2006 Taka 27.52 million (US$ 0.45 million) was distributed among 34,693 students.

Serial	Categories	Numbers		Total
Serial	Categories	Girls	Boys	Total
1	Primary	6,486	3,599	10,085
2	Junior Secondary	4,423	2,338	6,761
3	Secondary	6,107	6,253	12,360
4	Higher Secondary	2,632	2,010	4,642
5	Cultural	612	233	845
	Total :	20,260	14,433	34,693

LIFE STORY OF AFROZA, A DAUGHTER OF FARIDA BEGUM

Afroza Aktar stood first in the talent pool category in junior in (class-viii) scholarship examination in 2006 in the district of Comilla and earned the Government scholarship. She also won the highest level ‘Junior Secondary Scholarship’ among the Grameen meritorious students of the country as declared by the Grameen Bank, Head Office in 2006. Before that she made her parent proud by earning both the Grameen Bank and the Government ‘Primary (class-V) scholarship’ for her brilliant result in primary scholarship examination in 2002. Her father,

a daily basis worker in an office was unable to bear the expenses of the family. Two of the elder sisters of Afroza had to marry earlier because of the hand to mouth condition of their family.

Farida Begum, her mother became the member of Grameen Bank, Gouripur Branch (west), Comilla Zone on November 12, 2002. Farida Begum took a first time loan of Tk.4000 for procuring a head sewing machine to do tailoring work at her home. Then she incorporated clothes business in her tailoring work and has been extending her business year by year. Now Afroza’s parent fell very proud for their 3rd daughter’s success in education and is enthusiastic to continue her higher education. They are not worried about Afroza’s higher education expenses as they will get “GB Higher Education Loan with a tiny interest on it, i.e. no interest charges during education period and after completion of education 5% interest will be charged on it.

Afroza’s one younger sister and one younger brother have been studying in school and are also performing good result in their classes. Farida’s success in her loan activities and her children education performances have been recognized as an example worthy of emulation in her community.