In this world, many people
born in poor family and encountered various forms of injustices at their life,
only the nature and intensity are different. However, they don’t think beyond
box in a way that they hypnotized by their poverty and injustices or enjoying
within this trap. I don’t know yet why do I was seeking the underlying causes
of poverty and injustices. Why did I always felt ashamed, humiliation,
voiceless in front of the elite peoples/groups? Fortunately or unfortunately, I
also hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss in this regards due to poor and
marginalized family. Neither my degrees nor my intellectual, senior friends
provided the answer. But, I continuously experienced of exclusion and
exploitation due to my poverty and injustices in every walks of my life. Often,
I think, if my brain were use for other concern, what would look like? I also
often thought that if my parents didn't send me school, what would look like?
As I grew up, I knew many
people at work, at universities though I didn’t find the passionate and
committed people to work with me to fight against poverty and injustice in real
sense. By using the words of poverty and injustices, people are pretending that
they are fighting against it.
In Nepali context, giving up
neither government permanent job nor well paid NGO work is not common. Though I
gave up and founded the organization for verifying myself whether is possible
to fight against poverty or injustices or not.
About a decade before, I had
heard about two names simultaneously. They were Prof. M. Yunus, founder of
Grameen bank. I have gone through his three books already including social
business. Then that day, I have keen interest to know more about him, keen to
meet him but it is not easy in many ways. It is getting harder when I stated
full time volunteer job for my organization or fishing the answers behind
poverty and injustices.
Though, the organization
where I am working today is the fourth organization in my life where I was
worked as founder. I tried to move on but failed due to following
characteristics of mine; poor, non-political, non-capital. I experienced
government for complete 10 years. Likewise, I also experienced bilateral and
INGO about 10 years. I observed the activities which are delivered by all forms
of development works including charity. In Nepali context, power and politics
makes matters everywhere specially access to the resources. Though I never gave
up working on it, even the things e.g. daily life gets more challenging. In my
own way, I have always ask how can we make sustain the project without begging
with donors. I also see back on projects which were implemented by my
colleagues and others. Meantime, I experienced on how much donors are at
fatigue due to lack of significant results even more than half century
contribution and NGOs are not in right track as its intends to do. In this
given circumstances, a common challenges and question is the sustainability of
impacts. Indeed, all dimensions of the sustainability are important however the
financial and social impacts are more important in Nepali context to move at
first. Even, marginalized people started to organize and mobilize which lose
essence after couple of months of project life span.
About a decade more, I heard
about BRAC University and history. Though, many Nepali folks graduated from
there. I have gone through the website, social media pages and met few friends
who are working there. The founder of the BRAC, Mr Fazle Hasan Abed was AIM (Asian
Institute of Management) graduate means we are alumni. My thirst, to know more
about his approach is become dying dream. I am living in suffocation,
compromises, and deprivations. So I was looking an opportunity to enter
Bangladeshi since long but it didn’t work at all. I have very hard time to
expand the project activities and areas as expected.
June 28 is the International
Social Business day, day of Prof. Yunus’s birthday. As a stakeholder of CGNSB
(Chaudhary Group Nepal Social Business), I decided to join the conference at
Dhaka, though my trip is zero sponsored. I have been working with CGNSB more
than a year as a Social Impact Advisor in voluntary basis.
 |
| From left: Birshnath Yogi, Merina Ranjit, Radha Paudel, Inge Patsch, Prof. Yunus, Nirvana Chaudhary, Lok darsan Shrestha |
CGNSB is also
working in Jumla where my organization Action Works Nepal (AWON) is providing
strategic and local support to initiate projects. In Dhaka, two fellows; Lok
Darsan Shrestha and Brish Nath Yaogi from Jumla were there and Mr. Yogi
presented a progressive project ``Karnali Miteri Udog’.
 |
| Brish Nath Yogi was presenting about Karnali Miteri Udog from Kudari, Jumla |
We had special meeting
with Prof Yunus and actively engaged in series of interaction.
 |
| Nepal delegates had met with Prof. M. Yunus and explaining about Projects |
We observed that
Social Business is like POTATO in Nepali context, can eat at any form. Social
business is addressing an urgent social issues at their respective communities;
health, education, environment, entertainment, universities, banks etc. A
social business is a non-dividend business that seeks to solve a social problem
through business methods. It is different from traditional personal profit
making business and not for profit organization. It has seven principles as
developed by Nobel Laureate Professor M. Yunus. It can be lead by anyone no
need to have expertise to start, a person who have deep passion and commitment,
they are moving and success as well.
I had also gone to the BRAC
to see their office, field level mobilization in order to learn on mobilization
and empowerment of ultra poor people through my friends who are working there. BRAC is the largest NGO in the world and
working in seven different projects. It generates 80 % revenue for its entire
operation from bank, diary, handicraft, poultry,micro credit,media, entertainment, various small
enterprises, human rights, peace building and legal re frames.
 |
| From Left Faruque, Parboti, Lopa and Tahmina at BRAC office |
Both BRAC and Yunus Center
has about 40 years history of foundation and doing amazing work to fight
against poverty and injustice at global level. Bangladesh’s economy is also
improving because of these two giant institutions. They are working in holistic
approach by sectors and levels and all perspectives.
My take away from this Dhaka
visit is questioning to all NGO’s work again. Why do they are not sustained
after abandon by donors? Why the unemployment is shooting up? Why do people
live in such chronic depression and deprivation?
Now, I strongly believe that
Nepal’s economy can be changed if they adopt the approach of Yunus or BRAC
specially business model and holistic approach. The work which is doing by many
UN, NGOs in Nepal is making dependence rather make economic liberty, freedom
and dignified life in every walks of life of people. Action Works Nepal is also
trying to replicate the principles of Social Business but long way to go.
To know more about Yunus
Center: www.yunuscenter.org
To know more about BRAC: www.brac.net
To know more about CGNSB: https://www.facebook.com/CGNSB.org?ref_type=bookmark
To more about Action Works
Nepal: www.actionworksnepal.org
