‘A Hand Up Doesn’t Always Require a Handout’

Excerpts from the excellent article Nobel Laureate MUHAMMAD YUNUS Founder and MD of Grameen Bank Bangladesh.

Many people ask, Why not just give free cash, especially under such dire circumstances? In Bangladesh, we’ve learned that when aid is free, not only do the poor get the least of it, but everyone inflates their needs. While some handouts are clearly necessary in such times, we focus on lending small amounts of money. This lets us keep costs down and rebuild funds for the next disaster.

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As our small, flood-battered country has learned, giving someone a hand up doesn’t always require a handout. The most important thing is to help people get back to work while letting them hold on to their self-respect. Microloans can do just that.