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I visualize grameenmarketplace.com performing all of the " back room" functions necessary to allow a microeconomic producer of stools, clothing, the finest honey, etc. to become an internet business.... creation of the webpage providing information and a picture of each product offered, providing payment capability through the use of credit cards....with actual physical fulfillment subcontracted to an organization offering that type of service. The advantage to the micro businesses would be considerable, by tremendously expanding their market and the ability to sell their product. Grameen, of course, would be entitled to a percentage of the sales price for the services it provides and for profit, thereby making considerable increased revenue available for additional loans. Admittedly, the idea requires much additional thought and, undoubtedly, revisions, but I wonder what you think of the premise itself. Alan L. Gleitsman I have not even dreamed of what is happening now in Kyrgyzstan in the last two months, particularly in my homeland – Batken, where we have been successfully operating two projects following GB model. Many people know your name in Kyrgyzstan thanks to the realization of GB microcredit model in Batken and Lyalak, and we with pleasure were preparing for the Workshop onImplementation of GB Model in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. But unfortunately, because of the present situation in this region we actually had to stop our preparation for this forum. Actions of rebels from Tajikistan were too unexpected and sudden!
Let me inform you in short about the events which have taken place during August–September in Batken. At the beginning of August there appeared a group of rebels in villages located close to the state border of Kyrgyzstan with Tajikistan. Then, there was a serious anxiety that in some locations there would be minor shootouts. Still in villages where Kyrgyzayltrust project is being implemented, the situation is normal: activities are undertaken successfully. But, I am anxious about further expansion of microcredit program though I hope that the situation will be controlled by government troops of Kyrgyzstan. In Lyalak the situation is calm. Thus, we think it may be more expedient to open new branches in the northern regions of Kyrgyzstan, particularly in Sokuluk area of Chuy Oblast that is 30 – 40 kilometers from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. This area fully conforms to the principal criteria of selection of branch in accordance with the system of Grameen Bank. But I am very anxious about the other side of the problem; what will our women– loanees in Batken think about the programme after so zealously and honestly working with us during the last three years. For them microcredit was the main anchor of support? Transfer of funds from Batken to others parts of Kyrgyzstan looks like desertion, leaving women without credit during the more difficult time. Actually, it is complicated to find answers to all these questions, and I will be grateful for your advice and proposals on this issue. Dr. Rahat Achylova Thank you very much for your prompt response and all the information that you have sent me. It was very interesting and has encouraged me to come to Dhaka to do unpaid internship in Grameen. That is why I am planning to arrive at the beginning of the month of February, 2000. I am actually in Hong Kong right now as a trainee in the credit department of a French bank. Would it be possible to have some more information about what the internship would be like? As I have a passion for the internet and computers, I would really like to be involved with the Grameen Cybernet Ltd company. I have never been to Bangladesh, but I am sure that as in many countries, there is plenty to be done and that it can help people in many ways. I am also interested in finance and as I saw on your website, the Grameen Fund was doing venture capital, equity finance and management buy-ins and buy-out. Maybe, I could also help in this department. Anyway, I will stay for a few months and rely on you on the place were you most need help. I am very motivated, hard-working and enthusiastic. I am also very much impressed by the success of your organization, as I think it may change the face of economic and social development, evidenced in many countries. I am really looking forward to discover the world of Grameen. Vincent Frey. Greetings! My name is Joanna Young and I am a second year undergraduate student at the Wharton School for Business. I have been a big fan of the Grameen Bank, since I first read about it a few years ago. Coincidentally, I was the assistant director last year to the World Bank Committee for the High School Model United Nations simulation, where one of our topics happened to be micro-banking. In addition, Dr. Jamshed Ghandhi is one of my advisors and he also seemed very interested in it as well as very active with other microbanking ventures. As a result, my interest in micro-finance has escalated over the years. I happened to stumble upon your e-mail while surfing the web and also saw the auction that is taking place to raise money for a factory. So while I had the chance, I just wanted to applaud you for everything that you have done, and also thank you for being an inspiration in my life. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, please let me know. Joanna Young Last-First Networks is a small NGO with a vision for improving the flow of knowledge about grassroots development and action by the poorest and marginal groups of society. As part of our services we are working to establish a searchable list of abstracts on the world wide web. Until 1997, World Vision Australia published Global Issues Bulletin, a valuable resource which we are now reviving in electronic form. We have seen the Grameen Dialogue newsletter and believe it would be valuable if there was a public reference to the material it contains. We would like to obtain short abstracts from your newsletter for inclusion in this resource. We are wondering whether you would permit abstracts to be published on the web. Are abstracts presently available in any from: print, CD-ROM or online? If so would it be possible for us to use these abstracts? We look forward to hearing from you. We very much hope your newsletter can be more widely known and sought after as a result of inclusion in our collection of abstracts. Sharon Davidge Very good news of the work at our end! First of all, two or three people of our organization, are ready to take the training course in Bangladesh, by the end of November. Second: as we have got the governmental authorization for our foundation, we started with our own e-mail that is: fundgrameenarg@hotmail.com . I will appreciate if you can inform in your web site that for this part of America, it will be FUNDACION GRAMEEN (ALDEAS) ARGENTINA, with two e-mail address i.e.: fundgrameenarg@hotmail.com and pbsingno@arnet.com.ar. I also kindly ask you, if you can publish the information in the bulletins that are edited by Grameen Trust periodically. It will be helpful, if the information about our existence is provided in the pages of Internet. Third: we are designing our own web page. I shall inform you about this in due course. We are happy with the progress of work that is going on, in this part of the world. Pablo Broder
My country, Colombia, is going through one of the worst political, economic and social crisis of this century. Everyday, dozens of people are killed in a nonsensical war in which none of the factions seemed to have a clear goal in mind. The economy, mostly agricultural, is suffering because of the general violence, to the point that hundreds of peasants are left everyday with one of two choices: either become a member of one of the factions, or leave for safer areas leaving everything behind. The social unrest is unbearable and the government is helpless. As you can see we need almost a miracle to save ourselves. Bringing back the hope with the possibility of a decent life is the best gift that I could give my people today. Your idea of microlending is fundamental to the plan that I and other Colombians have thought, to bring Colombia to the place where we want our kids to live in twenty years from now. We have initially thought about applying Grameen concept to a program that we are calling renewable micro fish-farms. Some of the most violent regions in my country have all the resources to build such an industry: water, perfect weather, and people. We are thinking that most of these micro fish-farms will be composed of only one person and his family. We are also thinking about co-operatives where 5 of 6 peasants come together to build their own farm. As you can see, only with the microlending concept we can build that miracle. Hector Hernandez
Though I have known about Grameen Bank for some time, I did not realize its potential until I read a number of books including Muhammad Yunus’s autobiography and attended lcetures on Grameen concept. The concept is not only innovative, but also captivating. For the first time I felt that Bangladesh has a hope. With your creative mind, dedication, and love for people, you have offered a way to the economic freedom for Bangladesh. Your achievement is admirable when one considers the formidable battles you have fought and came out as a winner. You have so much to offer not only to Bangladesh, but also to the rest of the world. As a Bangladeshi, I am proud of you. Dr. M. I. Kabir |
