Back when I was a 20-something just beginning my lifelong journey to help in the fight against global poverty, I didn’t imagine that it would lead to this. Here I am just six hours from boarding a plane to Oslo to see Professor Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank accept the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Since that fateful call on October 13, it has been a whirlwind for everyone connected with Grameen. Thousands, if not millions, of people around the world are showing new or renewed interest in and support for microfinance. If we are to truly end abject poverty, we need to keep the momentum going by building a movement of people committed to realizing this bold vision.
Going to Oslo – a region of the world I have never visited previously – for the Nobel ceremony promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We decided to launch this blog to give everyone a chance to experience the excitement of the ceremony, and to learn more about microfinance and how they can get involved. Together with my colleagues Susan Davis and Sam Daley-Harris, I will be giving on-the-ground updates about the pomp and circumstance of the celebrations, and the pride and joy of the ordinary people whose lives have been changed by what this wonderful man — and seven million women — have done. I’m looking forward to your comments and questions. Now, it’s on to Oslo.
- Alex Counts, president of Grameen Foundation
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December 8th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Hey Alex,
It’s great to see GF USA start a blog and to do it with “live” coverage of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony! If there is anything I or FeedBurner can do to help with the blog please let me know. I have already subscribed to the feed and I plan to do a write-up on my blog to let everyone know about the site. Looking forward to reading more insights and thoughts from the GF USA team. Welcome to the blogosphere!
Cheers,
Eric
December 8th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Congratulations to you, Alex, to Dr. Yunus and to the Grameen Foundation!
You’re truly an inspiration to us all.
I was ecstatic to find out about your cause while Iwas on a trade mission to my home country, the Philippines, last July, 2006. I didn’t know anything about micro-credit until I read the article in Business 2.0 about Muhammad Yunus.
I immediately searched for as many books, articles and videos about Dr. Yunus.
My favorite are the “Social Entrepreneur” videos from Ashoka.org and
Dr. Yunus’ book “Banker To The Poor”
You’ve served as my inspiration in helping my home country prosper economically.
I’ve started a scholarship program for poor kids back in 1993 at 1 child per year.
3 months ago, I’vestarted an internet-based micro-preneur program for my town folks in the poor town of Leyte, Philippines, based on the principles you’ve laid out with Grameen Bank.
I’m telling my whole list of 200,000+ subscribers, readers and customers about you and I’m hoping they’ll all tune in to the webcast of the Nobel Prize lectures on Sunday, December 10th.
Thanks again for being such a wonderful inspiration
Joel Christopher R.
Best-selling Author, Speaker & Internet Marketing Mentor
http://www.JoelChristopher.com
http://www.MasterListbuilder.com
December 8th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
Site looks great, congrats!
December 8th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Greatly improved, congratulations.
December 8th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Cool site
December 8th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Microfinance? Fighting Poverty? Heavy stuff for a blog, congrats and best of luck in the future.
December 8th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
I really look forward to the coverage!
December 9th, 2006 at 1:45 am
Hi Alex,
Welcome to Norway and I believe I will meet you here, as I now work in the Strømme Foundation’s main office in Kristiansand a southern city in Norway, but I together with several of my colleagues will be there to participate in the great events that await here in Oslo from tomorrow.
Thank you for being a part of the leadership in this great movement to eradicate the misery of poverty of million of people and we (I together with Strømme Foundation) renew our resolve to continue our efforts joining others, to reach the many millions still un-reached with the much needed financial and non-financial services that would make a difference in their life.
Have a wonderful experience in Norway
Grantham
December 11th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
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