Google: Professor Yunus That's how it all started. I was aiming for inspiration when I thought: "who is the person that if died, I would regret not having met? Yunus! From my internet research, I´ve got to know Yunus Center and the Social Business Immersion Program.
Coming to Bangladesh and participating in the social business immersion program resulted in an apprenticeship that went beyond the walls of the boardrooms where part of the training was given. It was 30 days full of emotions! The context, where I lived in, provided valuable learning experiences, paradigm shifts and deep connections. To illustrate, follow some of those lessons I have experienced.
• Experience of living in Dhaka
Being in Dhaka and having stayed in Mirpur was very special to connect myself with the reality and the pains of the world. A totally different connection when compared to watch a documentary or read a book. Everything counts: the noise of the city, the chaotic traffic, the different forms of transport (e.g. car, bus, moto, CNJ, rickshaws), the garbage in the streets, the different aromas, the height of the sidewalks, the street shops and the look of the people at me. As the days passed, my heart calmed down, the astonishment from the differences settled and gave way to contemplation. I managed to pay more attention to the vibrant colors of people's garments, in the way they repay a smile, allowing me to take selfies with the locals who wanted to register that instant of connection between East and West... Several times I was surprised when local people offered me help to cross the street. People that I didn't know before. People who did this for the simple fact that I'm visiting the country where they live.
This experience has made me rethink my values and my prejudices, be knowledgeable about my privileges and started to question myself about my responsibility in this context.
• Experience of living in a shelter
20 out of 30 days I had stayed in a shelter for children. I lived there with 50 children who used to be street kids and today are a big family. Contrary to what you might think, I have not found any sad or needy children. I found loving children, curious, safe and dreamers. Strong kids. I'm going to miss the “good morning” before going to the course, the comments they made about my clothes and the conversations in the late afternoon.
Living with these children gave me an understanding of how we can transform people's lives, the potential embedded in each human being, and the value of putting ourselves in the service of the other.
• Experience at the Immersion Course at Yunus Centre
In the first week, we had meetings with the executive team of Grammen Bank, as well as two visits to rural villages in Dhaka. Unique opportunity to know the work "in loco", understand the reality of rural women, observe the prosperity in their lives when entering their homes and noting the presence of beds, refrigerator and television, besides being received with tea with milk and homemade biscuits!
In the following two weeks, we visited other companies that are part of the Grameen Group, understanding their business model, partnerships with international institutions and current challenges. Amazing to know different models, distinct challenges, but with a common goal: to end poverty and unemployment in the world.
On the last week of the course, we were supposed to present our business model for the Yunus Centre executive team. I took the course with my Brazilian friend, Ana Maria Drummond, and we decided to work together on the business model – but with the intention to create something applicable to Brazil. With the support of the Yunus Centre, we have been able to present our business model to the executive team of Grameen Trust, a company responsible for replicating the methodology of Grameen Bank and Nobin Program elsewhere in the world. It was the utmost to hear their experience in other countries, guidance on what would be our next steps and the possibility of a partnership in Brazil!
During the four weeks period, we had direct contact with the Companies' executive team. Many of them had begun their career with Yunus many years ago, when the Grameen Bank was still an idea that needed to be prototyped and polished. Besides that, the meetings´ environment was unique when compared to the corporate world. In many of them, we didn't have a PowerPoint presentation. Knowledge was transmitted based on conversation, in the interest of each one, eye to eye contact. There was no direction imposed – and the conversation flowed. I was always thrilled when I realized that the executive who was talking to us was experiencing his life purpose! All so integrated, so connected – no distinction between being professional with personal life. Knowledge with humility. Experience with interdependence. Inspiring!
I was able to know companies where the focus is on HUMAN BEINGS and process control is based on RELATIONSHIPS and TRUST. So basic and at the same time so necessary in the present day.
• Experience of having the courage to live a dream
Passionate about social entrepreneurship and in a more equal and sustainable world, having Professor Yunus as a source of great inspiration was natural. The difficulty came when I decided to allow me to dream of staying 30 days in Bangladesh to study social business while my two sons, Felipe and Roberto, and my husband Daniel were living in Hong Kong. Several questions arose: Is it right to leave my children for 1 month? Am I being selfish? Will Daniel and Nancy, our helper, be aware of keeping the school routine and homework? Will the kids be well? Am I going to be okay?
The desire to live this experience was greater than the fear I felt when all these questions came.
• What´s next?
Digesting everything I've lived after my first week back to Hong Kong, I understood I couldn't have learned what I learned with the same depth if I hadn't left my comfort zone and my routine, had time to isolate myself to connect with my emotions and with my heart. On a practical way, bringing the new knowledge and references to create a social business model, where as important as the positive impact is to bring the financial sustainability to the business.
It was a worthy experience. Recommend! After all, "life is too short to be small." Let's enjoy it!
