| Grameen Shakti is a renewable energy resources | | | | This has created immense opportunities for |
| company based out of Bangladesh. They are a | | | | people in rural villages. Children now have the |
| part of the Grameen family of companies, which | | | | ability to pursue their studies long after the sun |
| has been working for decades to alleviate the | | | | has gone down. Businesses now have the ability |
| burdens of poverty in developing countries. The | | | | to operate beyond their traditional work hours, |
| Grameen Bank, one of their founding companies, | | | | thus increasing productivity and sales. A world of |
| has become world-renowned for their charitable | | | | opportunity has opened up for an entire |
| work and for helping to establish groundbreaking | | | | generation of rural villagers. As a consequence, |
| programs focused on the needs of people. | | | | they are no longer rural villagers. They are now |
| In recent years, the Grameen Bank has financed | | | | members of our global village. |
| and supported a number of projects aimed at | | | | One of the most amazing consequences of this |
| removing social and financial barriers and creating | | | | program has been the level of technological |
| opportunities for those less fortunate. Grameen | | | | engagement that has occurred among the youth |
| Telecom is one such example. The central aim of | | | | in Bangladesh. For young people in rural |
| this company is to provide collateral-free loans to | | | | communities, the future is bright. Due to the |
| rural villagers for use in establishing local | | | | advancement in technological knowledge and |
| communications networks. This model has | | | | understanding, the demand for skilled workers has |
| become known as the Village Phone. | | | | increased at a phenomenal pace. To address this |
| They have now committed significant resources | | | | concern, Grameen Shakti has also established |
| to sustainable energy development. The | | | | training programs that educate young people in |
| cornerstone of this effort is the Photovoltaic | | | | the principles of electronics and engineering. |
| Program. In Bangladesh, only 30% of the | | | | It is both exciting and encouraging to witness the |
| population is receiving energy from the electrical | | | | immediate and tangible effects of an enlightened |
| power grid. In this developing nation, the | | | | business model that measures its true profitability |
| infrastructure to provide energy to every | | | | by its social impact. It is an idea that is completely |
| household simply doesn't exist. In an effort to | | | | foreign to the western capitalist mindset, and one |
| address this problem, Grameen Shakti has | | | | that serves as a shining example of the power of |
| financed the installation of thousands of solar | | | | an idea. Western corporations take heed; there |
| energy systems in rural communities. | | | | are lessons to be learned in rural Bangladesh. |