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Thirty years ago, Professor Muhammad Yunus left the classroom where he had been teaching economics, and ventured out into the poor rural villages of his native Bangladesh to try to discover what prevented these hard-working people from escaping poverty. In one village, Professor Yunus found that for a total of just $27, he could make life-changing loans to 40 women. Thus was born the idea of microcredit - giving very small loans to poor people to allow them to start successful businesses.
Today, Professor Yunus directs the Grameen Bank, which has made microloans for income-producing projects to millions of poor people, mainly women, enabling them to lift their families out of poverty. Together, Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for their pioneering work. Microcredit has now become a worldwide phenomenon. Pennies a Day tells the inspiring story of how one poor family - and their entire village - escaped poverty with the aid of small loans from Grameen Bank.
This DVD features the bonus “Hear Me Now” music video by The Green Children, which highlights the work of Professor Yunus. Sales of the song funded a much needed eye hospital in Bangladesh. To see the video, go to www.youtube.com/thegreenchildren
After teaching a unit on financial math and mortgage financing, I show this video. It helps put money matters into a different perspective for students.
Diane Laetz Math - 7 Culver City High School, Culver City, CA
I loved this video. The resources for teacher instruction was greatly appreciated. My students found it intriguing and were happy to learn about other cultures. From a math perspective, it solicited a lot of good discussion about number sense and credit options. The video was just perfect in length also. Thank-you!
Tenesha Williams Math - 9 Evanston Township High School, EVANSTON, IL
This video generated lots of discussion on poverty and how to solve it. Students were intrigued that such a simple idea could generate so much success.
Greg Farris English/Lang. Arts - 10 Riverdale High School, Riverdale, CA
It took a difficult concept for middle schoolers (economics, credit) and put a human face on it so they could understand. It also brought them some perspective about other areas of the world and how, with ingenuity, a very small amount of money can turn lives around.
Joanne Stanley Business/Voc/Tech - 9 Robious Middle School, Midlothian, VA
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izzitPLUS members on the izzitPLUS page.
