Home  »  Latest News  »  US to honour Microfinance pioneer Dr Muhammad Yunus with Freedom medal

US to honour Microfinance pioneer Dr Muhammad Yunus with Freedom medal

Prof Yunus 1

Dr. Muhammad Yunus

By Naagesh Naaraayana

Microfinance Focus, July 31, 2009: Microfinance pioneer Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, has been awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom for 2009.  Dr. Yunus will receive the medal from President Barack Obama at a special White House ceremony on August 12. Each (recipient) saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way…Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive,” said President Obama.  Dr Yunus has pioneered microfinance movement in Bangladesh which has now become a global phenomenon. Yunus was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work. In his congratulatory message, Mr Alex Counts, President & CEO of Grameen Foundation, said: “I worked with Dr. Yunus for six years in Bangladesh prior to establishing Grameen Foundation with his support in 1997, and I am delighted that he is being honored for his tremendous work on behalf of poor people worldwide.  While living there, I saw Professor Yunus’ humble leadership and pathbreaking ideas changing lives and motivating people at all levels of society to envision and work towards a poverty-free Bangladesh.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States and recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the United States, world peace and culture.
Dr. Yunus will join Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King, Jr. when he receives the award on August 12. The US medal was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to recognize civilians for their efforts during World War II and was reinstated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor distinguished service by civilians.

Related Posts:

© 2009 – 2010, Microfinance News. All rights reserved. 2008-09

24 Comments on “US to honour Microfinance pioneer Dr Muhammad Yunus with Freedom medal”

  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 10:54

    A wise old saying is that “Life is about following one’s Dharma well enough to be able to sleep peacefully at the end of the day, and continue with same once a new sun rises.”
    This Freedom Medal is surely just a small Gratification for the immense satisfaction that must already be the reason for the most peaceful sleep!

    There is more to be done at the ‘Bottom of the Pyramid’.

    Thank you

    Warm regards
    Arun Iyer
    New Business Development
    Institutional Alliances
    SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 10:55

    Dear Vikash,

    That’s great to hear from you and Congratualtion for Dr. Yunus to receive the medal from President Barack Obama that’s great price for him as he work hard to push the microfinance world wide. So on be half of Microfinance Working Group for Lao, PDR again Congratualtion!!

    chanta
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 15:22

    Respected Dr. Mohammad Yunus,
    I congratulate you on receiving US Presidential Medal of Freedom for 2009.
    Hope this award will contribute a lot in the development of Microfinance Sector.

    Regards,
    Syed Sajjad Ali Shah
    Manager-MED
    Microfinance Operations,
    District Mithi, Sindh, Pakistan.
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 15:23

    It is great to be acknowledged by rich for doing yeoman service for the poor. It should inspire all of us to emulate this spirit of lending shoulders to others to walk on their own feet. Our good wishes are with him. Long Live Yunus.

    Dr.S.N.Ghosal, Kolkata W.Bengal
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:00

    Congratulation! to Dr Muhammad yunus sir, I am proud of my self because I am working in Micro finance. The Grameen Bank also a Micro finance orgn, The Founder of Grameen Bank Dr Muhammad yunus sir got the world greatest and most valueble Prize Noble Peace in 2006. Now US Presidential Medal of Freedom for 2009. It is good sign to us, it spirit work with Micro Finance orgns. We are working with Urban Poor womens we are try to eliminate proverty.

    Narasimha Murthy.K.A
    Ujjivan
    Programme Manager |Bangaloru,
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:07

    I would like to congratulate to Great Mr.Mohammed younus who made to get employment to many lakhs people by his microfinance concept.

    Reagards
    Pradeep.B
    Area Manager
    Ujjivan Financial Services pvt ltd
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:20

    We extend our hearty conrdulations to you on this ocasion of US President recognising your contribution with Freedom Medol.

    Wish you many many such ocasions
    Thanks
    Sincerely
    N.T.Paramasivaiah
    CEO
    Navachetana Microfin Services Private Limited.
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:36

    Interesting, I have never heard of the US Freedom medal before. Congrats to Dr. Yunus and the Grameen Team.
    Thanks for posting.
    Jami Hubbard
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:36

    Congratulation! It will further support the microfinance.

    Regards

    Awais
    Plan International
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 31 July, 2009, 22:37

    Congrat. to him especially after the revealings of the French
    journalists regarding the wonderful results in Bangladesh for the last
    thirty years of his accomplishment of getting the poverty out of
    Bangladesh.

    Zvi
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 1 August, 2009, 1:20

    Congratulations Sir, I am so happy this recognition meet you in your liftime, the good work you started is being emulated all round the world..
    This is from Pyramid Co-operative society, New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

    Kind regards,
    Edet Akpan
  • Chamak wrote on 1 August, 2009, 2:03

    Congratulations Dr Yunus!!!

    Like lot of other Bangladeshis, I wish you went through with your decision to get into politics in Bangladesh. The suffering nation desparately needs wise and visionary icons like you.

    You make us proud.
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 1 August, 2009, 9:23

    I would like to congratulate to Dr.Yunus for being done great social work in the past across global and The medal ,Dr.Yunus will be receiving from US President at white house brought me a great happy.

    Regards,
    Nagarjun A
    Ujjivan financial services pvt ltd,(MFI)
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 2 August, 2009, 7:42

    For believing in the poor, for giving them a change to build a life with dignity, for giving them a choice, to make they dream and prove that they hold the capabilities and the strength needed in they hearts to start fighting for a world without poverty doing the best they can in their own capacities and will to change their fait.

    Thaleia Kavakiοtou
    Athens, Greece
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 2 August, 2009, 7:43

    Heartiest congratulations to you for the Award.
    Best regards,
    Anju Das
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 2 August, 2009, 13:53

    Congratulate to Dr. Yunus.

    “You restarted blood circulation of lives of thousands and thousands across the world “

    Ammanna S.
    Ujjivan Financial Services Pvt Ltd.
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 3 August, 2009, 16:39

    I would like to congratulate Dr Muhammed Yunus, on behalf of ESAF Microfinance, on his latest achievement of winning the US Freedom Medal. This is in fact another feather in the cap for the Nobel Laureate, whose path we all are striving to emulate. I am sure that more glory awaits this humble guardian, of the deprived and the downtrodden, who relentlessly works for a poverty free world.

    K. Paul Thomas

    Managing Director, ESAF Microfinance and Investments
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 3 August, 2009, 18:50

    ” YOU ARE THE ARTIST OF EQUAL ECONOMY ”
    I AM WITH YOU.

    BEST REGARDS
    PRIYABRATA MONDAL
    UJJIVAN

    BRANCH- DOMJUR, DIST- HOWRAH, STATE- WEST BENGAL
  • Microfinance Focus wrote on 6 August, 2009, 13:14

    Mr. Mohammad Yunus became a ray for the poor in the world. He developed wealth treasury for the poor to make their life sustainable. We would like to convey our congratulations to Mr. Yunus sab on this occasion.

    B.Renukamba
  • Nandakishore wrote on 9 October, 2009, 12:47

    Respected Prof. Yunus ji,

    I would like to congratulate you because you are the architect you show how to change poor person to sustainable person really you are grate. Once again Congratulation

    A.R.Nandakishore
    Accounts Manager,
    Nirantara Community Services
  • Ramu Maurya wrote on 30 October, 2009, 15:30

    Dear Sir,

    Cogratulate you for receiving Freedom Medal. This prize represent the sympathy to the poor people of the world because a lot of work has been done by you for the sake of the poor people all over the world.
    Ramu Maurya

    Allahabad

    UP(INDIA)
  • raja wrote on 3 November, 2009, 2:05

    Congratulations to Prof. Yunus.
    Many people are unaware of the fact the pioneer of microcredit or microfinance was Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. Prof Yunus was Dr. Khan’s disciple. Read articles about Dr. Khan:

    Article entitled “Remembering Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan” (October 9, 2009) by Nasim Yousaf (Scholar)

    Article entitled “Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan’s Vision of Development through Self-Reliance”

    Article entitled “Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan – The Pioneer of Microcredit”

    Article entitled “7th death anniversary: A tribute to Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan”

    Paper by Case Western Reserve University Professor Richard E. Boyatzis (PhD) and Doctoral Student Masud Khawaja (MD) entitled “Resonant Leaders Leveraging Community and Country Sustained, Desired Change: The Case of the Amazing Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan”

    http://akhtar-hameed-khan.8m.com
  • Md. Muslemur Rahman wrote on 4 December, 2009, 18:15

    We congratulate our Managing Director Prof. Muhammad Yunus for earn US Presidential Medal of freedom and many thanks to the people of USA.
  • Saulat Kamran wrote on 11 December, 2009, 9:46

    Congratulation to Dr. Mohammad Yunus.
    Thank you Dr. Mohammad Yunus for proposing to build a South Asian Union (SAU) In South Asian region. I am already proposing and propagating idea since 2005 by different websites, news papers and news media of the world. I thanks again to Noble Prize holder Dr. Yunus for proposing at proper place in Indian parliament I am. I think about that, who can put up this proposal in proper place in government level like parliament or in ministry levels of my proposed 44 countries of South Asia because I am common man of the country. I have web site http://www.southasianunion.net . I like to approach it in all levels of all government places of 44 South Asian countries. I also gave 12 point road map to implement South Asian Union (SAU).
    Process of South Asian Union (SAU) Implementation
    1. Forming union by including 44 countries as mentioned above.
    2. The Nations of the region can form South Asian Parliament by approving the appointment of Presidents, Kings, Prime ministers, Foreign ministers, Home ministers, Defense ministers & ministers for trade & commerce as members of the SAU parliament.
    3. Establishing a powerful single currency like EURO, for example South Asian Currency (SACU) or dollar or any other selected by the forum. And valuation can be fixed by averaging the currency values of the nations concerned.
    4. Abolishing visa system in order to promote traveling freely, and adopting free trade among the regional countries.
    5. Forming a joint military council to establish security of state, countries of the union & for common people.
    6. Paving ways for the people of the Union to seek jobs according to their capabilities.
    7. Making good uses of cultural and sports organizations through which the participating nations can establish their identity to understand each other.
    8. Funding should be made by member nations to establish Research Centers for medicines, incurable diseases, and science & technology for the benefit of general people.
    9. Establishing Bank such as Union Bank of South Asia to educate mass population, provide fund for natural disaster. Also making ways to drive homeless and astray people into employment through cottage industries to make their livelihood better so as to stop them from becoming smugglers, miscreants, or terrorists.
    10. Regarding child labor, concrete steps should be taken by providing free education established by the Union in the form of NGO. Orphans to be included in this establishment.
    11. Each state should be responsible to stop smuggler from drug/ arms trafficking. Also find ways to stop women & children trafficking.
    12. State to State disputes should be resolved for the best interest of the people. If necessary, the SAU may be called in the process of settlement.

    South Asia (Political Map) 1999

    Proposal for Future South Asian Union (SAU)
    The Proposed countries are Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Philippine.
    Yours,
    Saulat Kamran
    E-Mail Address: saulat@dhaka.net
    Website: http://www.southasianunion.net
    House No -28, Road No-4, Dhanmandi R/A.
    Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Write a Comment

Gravatars are small images that can show your personality. You can get your gravatar for free today!

«
»
Copyright © 2010 Microfinance News. All rights reserved.

© 2009-2010 Microfinance Focus All Rights Reserved

Switch to our mobile site