To anyone is is not a scholar of Latin, the text simply means: "I am all Yours, and all that I have belongs to You." Simple words indeed - yet words with so much meaning in today's world. Today marks my first day of "official" unemployment. And what better way to celebrate it than with some amazing people from the Grameen Bank. (an organization Jim mentioned in a previous post).
I was kind enough to be invited along to visit a potential project for Grameen in Sighthill in Glasgow. For those unfamiliar with the Grameen banking concept - let may explain - Grameen is a microfinance organization with a mission to alleviate poverty through entrepreneurship by providing loans, savings programs, credit establishment and other services to the working poor, especially women. It is built upon the success of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and its founder, Muhammad Yunus. Indeed the concept is already making the transfer to the developed world - having recently set up operations in Queens, NY. USA. And hopefully with some hard work - right here in Glasgow...
It was indeed an honour and a real pleasure to spend time with Professor Latifee, Managing Director of the Grameen Trust in Bangladesh. We spoke about the many challenges of bringing the microfinance concept to Glasgow, not least overcoming the legislative issues inherent with our dependence on the welfare system. We spoke about how people could use entrepreneurship as a means of breaking free from poverty. And we spoke about the reality of business planning, fundraising, and the operational aspects of running a truly "game-changing" business model.
But it was the people of Sighthill who are making the biggest difference. People with passion, purpose and a clear vision to make what many see as a dream - a true reality. Yes there will be doubters, I'm sure there are many who will say it will never work. But for me - I'd echo the words Prof Latifee said to me. "Too many people see the world full of problems - we see only solutions..."
Well said indeed....Thank you Grameen and Margaret/Linda from Sighthill "Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt."
Lets make it happen....
I had attended a presentation given by Professor Latifee on the 10th December at Caledonian University where he spoke about Grameen banking and (very) briefly about its application in Sighthill.
Its success in Bangladesh is amazing and really inspirational. However, a number of attendees had brought up questions regarding how it would be applied in practice, in Sighthill. As you had mentioned, there are both regulatory issues and a well developed (albeit criticised) welfare system in place in Scotland, which may hinder its success.
What worries me is the fact that we live in a highly developed, capitalist state where many new businesses fall flat on their faces due to entry barriers and competitive pressures. Of course, say in Bangladesh you can give a small amount of money to a woman who will buy a mobile phone with the small loan and then "rent" it out to customers and learn to support herself. In Scotland though there are less opportunities available for new businesses to survive.
I really hope this project does work and does help pull people from poverty. It will be interesting to see how it develops and the long term effect it may have on the welfare state and the role of the government.