Just do it to effect change, says Nobel laureate

from The New Straits Times online

KUALA LUMPUR: Be proactive instead of waiting for others to effect change. This is the message from Nobel Peace laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
He said people should take charge to accomplish change rather than hope for others to take action.

"If we want to improve our lives or the lives of others, we should be proactive and create change ourselves. We must be doers," he said yesterday.

Responding to a question after his public lecture at the International Islamic University (IIU) in Gombak, the founder of the Grameen Bank said taking the first step was more fulfilling than waiting for others to lead.

Earlier, a Bangladeshi student who said he was attached to a non-governmental organisation for the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers, had suggested that the Grameen Bank help look for jobs for them.
"Since you are going to meet the Malaysian prime minister, perhaps you can also discuss the matter with him," added the student.

Although he said that he would be happy to get involved in joint ventures, Yunus said: "Rather than asking the prime minister or someone else to do something, it is better to do it yourself.

"You don’t have to change the life of all migrant workers here, you can help just one person. If the Grameen Bank can do it, so can you."

Yunus, a former professor of economics, said "social businesses" worked better in empowering the poor compared with charity handouts.

"The social business dollar will go further to assist poor people. You are very lucky in Malaysia because there are few poor people here.

"If poverty could be completely eradicated in Malaysia by microcredit, that would be a wonderful message for the world."

Chittagong-born Yunus founded the Grameen Bank (Village Bank) in 1983 after he developed the concept of microcredit schemes to help the poor in Bangladesh.

Last year, Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in creating economic and social development.

An estimated 800 people packed IIU’s main auditorium during the hour-long lecture on Wednesday, with many students having to stand up due to lack of seats.