International interns studying social business

Mohammad Polash Khan | Published: March 10, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

For the last couple of years the whole notion of social business started to have a voice and appeal around the world. Muhammad Yunus and  Yunus Centre are emerging to become a household name globally. Recently, some international interns with diverse background shared their experiences at Yunus Centre.
Paul, a fresh Political Science graduate from Germany was asked, "how did you come to know about Yunus Centre?" He replied: "Actually my cousin did an internship at Grameen Bank in 2009 and he recommended it, since my major subject was in Political Science he suggested I go to Yunus Center - the think- tank of Grameen Bank," he said. When asked about what goal he had in mind, he said, "…(I took it up) just to get a change in perspective. If you grew up in the western world and want to get involved in social development, you should get some experience firsthand. And what is a better address than Yunus Centre?"
The Yunus Centre is dedicated to promoting a vision of a poverty- free world through the furthering and creation of social business. Its Social Business Department offers an opportunity for people from Bangladesh and all around the world to experience the dynamics of the development of social business and cultivate profound understanding towards social business, by working with the contemporary business entities on social business.
 All interns have the opportunity to participate in a five-day village exposure trip to broaden their experience and to learn about the philosophy and operational procedures of Grameen Bank, as well as the impact of Grameen on the economic and cultural life of borrowers and Bangladesh. Interns also get opportunity to visit Grameen's affiliated sister companies and social businesses.
 Innes Hammond, a 22 year old New Zealander is a commerce graduate and has a remarkable background in Economics, Finance and Marketing. "I did a two-month internship at Yunus Centre, and loved every minute of it," he said. Business development and poverty alleviation are his prime focuses as an aspiring academician.
Katerina Kolaciová's had the chance to meet  with managers and field workers engaged in social business enterprises. She feels privileged. "I got the chance to deeply examine the social businesses launched by the  Prof. Yunus, such as Grameen Bank, Grameen Veolia Water, Grameen Danone, GCCN, Grameen Solutions and Grameen Telecom Trust,"said this 28- year old woman from Czech Republic. Bangladesh was the 7th of the developing countries where she had worked. "I can fully recommend this internship to all young people around the world to do such exposures in their 20s," she said.
Ebtehal Elghamrawi is an intern from Egypt. She took up this opportunity in the en route her master degree education in Comparative local Development. She has spent the last two years of her life living in Italy, Germany, Hungary and finally - Bangladesh. "I always had a passion of finding answers on how NGOs and developmental work could be more sustainable and efficient. And that's why I want to learn how social business works," she said.
Mexican girl Marisela Ponce de Leon said, "Coming to Yunus Centre was a question of leaning about how this model contributes to improve people's lives and ended up also meeting great friends!" She has keen interests in improving people's quality of life and reducing inequalities, which she believes can be done by targeting the social determinants of health and tackling risk factors.
But the story of Liliana Fernandez from Venezuela would perhaps give one some idea on the diversity of disciplines meeting here.  Her previous internship was in the International Affairs Development of Venezuela's Central Bank. And she is working on analytical reports on politics and economic circumstances based on international context. She has embarked on a teaching career in International trade in Humboldt University, Caracas.
Or how about the people who enroll just to get a closer look at the real face of social business? 24-year old Argentinian Jessica Oyarbide has a background in advertising, communication and strategic planning. "I came to Bangladesh to see with my own eyes all the things that I have read about Grameen and Yunus," she said.  
Social Business is undeniably dragging interests of people from around the world. Bangladesh has immense possibilities to offer to the world despite the anomalies or oddities striking us every so often. Time will say how far the concept of social business can go in paving the way for the more humane and creative endeavors owned by and accessible to the less fortunate people. Since Bangladeshi students work hand- in- hand with international interns at YC, this may be an integrated capacity building instrument of empowerment for the financially feeble populace- especially in the rural areas of Bangladesh.
The writer is a development worker and can be reached at affan321@gmail.com