Yunus Centre

Jul 29, 2010

Emran Hossain

Yeardley Smith, who has voiced the role of Lisa since its debut, was touched by seeing the faces of poverty in the world.

Photo: Shawkat Jamil

At 46, the actress, writer, painter and vocal artist known for voicing the role of Lisa Simpson in the 26-year-old hit American animated television series The Simpsons, is committed to working ever harder to help the poor of the world -- including Bangladeshis -- stand on their feet.

Yeardley Smith, who has voiced the role of Lisa since its debut, was touched by seeing the faces of poverty in here and abroad. "It makes me want to work even harder, so that I can be more successful; and then I have more resources to give," Smith told The Daily Star.

After visiting Haiti three times, Smith became a "firm believer" in micro-credit. She recently visited Grameen institutions in Bangladesh to witness how social business, micro-credit and micro-finance institutions changed poor people's luck.

A silent donor to many organisations in the United States over the years, Smith decided to use her reputation to promote micro-credit, as she believes "it's the best way out of poverty." Smith recently met Grameen Shikkha scholarship recipients, visited Grameen Danone, Grameen Eye Care Hospital, Grameen Shakti Solar Home System and Grameen Bank branches.

Simpsons? You’ve really made it, Dad

Jul 28, 2010

Simpsons? You've really made it, Dad- Daughter excited Yunus will star in sitcom

ANANYA SENGUPTA

Dhaka, July 27: He is a Nobel laureate who has given millions a chance to bank on their future and put Bangladesh in the global spotlight. But if his daughter Deena is to be believed, Muhammad Yunus has just about "made it" now.

Japan Tour 2010: The Diary

Jul 27, 2010

Check out Grameen Creative Lab's blog on Professor Yunus' visit to Japan in July!

http://www.grameencreativelab.com/japan2010

Hollywood’s Emmy Award Winner Yeardley Smith in Dhaka

Jul 26, 2010

A distinguished member of the famous global TV family "The Simpsons" is here in Dhaka. Cartoon character Lisa Simpson is here not in person, but through the person who gives her voice in the series: Yeardley Smith. She arrived in Dhaka on July 20 for a week-long visit to study Grameen Bank and other initiatives of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. A long-time admirer of Professor Yunus, Smith has visited and provided support to Grameen microcredit programs in Haiti and other countries. A special episode of the Simpsons focusing on Grameen microcredit and Professor Yunus will be aired in October 2010 in the US. The recording of Professor Yunus' voice has been completed and the episode is ready to be aired.

'Social business' harnesses corporate brains to help poor

Jul 23, 2010

BY HISASHI NAITO AND RYUICHIRO TAKESHITA THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

Muhammad Yunus (THE ASAHI SHIMBUN)

A new business model that blurs traditional distinctions between social activism and business is gaining converts in boardrooms of leading Japanese companies.

"Social business," a concept pushed by Nobel Peace Prize winner, economist and banker Muhammad Yunus, uses traditional business structures and expertise but is focused on addressing social issues rather than making a profit for investors.

Profits that are made are invested back into the ventures.

At a news conference July 13, Yunus sat beside Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, to announce a low-priced clothing social business in Yunus's native Bangladesh.

Fast Retailing and Yunus' Grameen Bank Group will set up a joint venture in October that will aim to sell clothing at around $1 (87 yen) apiece to locals.

By employing local residents to assemble and sell the clothing, the operation hopes to offer employment in one of Asia's poorest nations.