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

Subject Areas: Business, Civics, Culture, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Geography, Global Issues, Government, History, International Studies, Peace, Political Science, Poverty, Religion, Social Studies, Sociology, Women's Studies