GF Scholarship Program: Stories from the Field

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Ruma in her room which she shares with her uncle’s children -- December 2009

Ruma Akter’s father died when she was only three years old, and her mother died when Ruma was six. Now 13, Ruma lives with her grandparents in the village of Bhawal Rajabari Shreepur. Her grandmother was in tears when she spoke about the financial hardship the family faces. But she and her husband are determined to keep Ruma enrolled at the Dhaladia High School at Gazipur, only a short walk from their home.

An eighth grader who excels in her studies and always stands first in class, Ruma heard about the Grameen Scholarship Program when a Grameen Bank manager spoke about the program at her school. Now, monthly payments from the program help her pay for books, notebooks, pens, pencils, and monthly private tuition fees. Ruma’s favorite subjects are science and English, and she hopes to one day become a doctor.

Ruma’s grandparents’ home -- December 2009

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Awlad in front of Grameen Bank branch ready for his monthly scholarship

Twelve-year-old Awlad Hossain was shivering from the cold as he was standing by a Grameen Bank branch wearing only a half sleeved shirt in a cold foggy December day waiting for his interview. Awlad’s grades at school are not as high as other Grameen Shikkha scholars.

However, his beautiful singing voice filled the room during a performance two years ago which caught the attention of Professor Muhammad Yunus, who then recommended Awlad to the scholarship program. Awlad’s mother is a Grameen Bank borrower who owns a small sand business, and his father is a cart puller. The eldest of three children, Awlad says he learned to sing by learning the songs he heard playing in nearby cafes. He prays that he becomes a famous singer in the future.

Awlad just before his singing performance to the Grameen Foundation staff

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Saidur Rahman, a 17-year-old

Saidur in front of his home with his parents and two sisters -- December 2009

junior at the BPATC School and College in Savar, has a GPA of 4.94 and is adamant about becoming a doctor and fulfilling his father’s dream. Saidur is the oldest of four siblings. His father is a farmer and mother is a Grameen Bank borrower.

Saidur’s school is far from home and requires his family to pay dorm fees and lodging. The monthly payments from the Grameen Foundation Scholarship Program help ease the burden of these expenses; however, his father does not mind working even harder to see his son become one day a physician.

Saidur is feeding the cow that was bought by his mother using Grameen Bank loans -- December 2009

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Asma with her mother in front of their home and Sabrina Quaraishi, Grameen Foundation Staff-- December 2009

Asma Akter tends to cry from nervousness. She’s a shy 12-year-old, but the classroom is where she shines. The aspiring doctor heard about the Grameen Foundation Scholarship Program at school and decided on her own to apply. When she is not studying, the seventhgrader helps her mother, a Grameen Bank borrower, in the field growing wheat and vegetables. Asma gets her initiative and drive from her mother. After her father suddenly developed a mental illness that keeps him shackled for most of the day, Asma’s mother stepped up to provide for the family on her own.

Asma’s mother has an older son from a previous marriage who left for Malaysia but has not been in contact with the family for the past two years. Her earnings are slow and steady, but for the first time, Asma’s family no longer has to use plastic bags to keep themselves and their belongings dry from the elements; the mud hut where they live in now has a tin roof.

Asma is breaking the wheat under the supervision of her mother -- December 2009

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Shamim with his mother, brother and sister. He had just flown the Bangladesh flag the day I met him in celebration of Bangladesh’s Victory Day on December 16t -- December 2009h

Shamim Hossain’s 10th grade board exams are coming up in February 2010. He aced the mock exams, but one kerosene lamp amidst an entire neighborhood with no electricity makes his nightly study sessions much more difficult. Money from the Grameen Foundation Scholarship Program covers half of his education costs, including books, transportation, and private tuition fees. The rest is covered by his mother, a Grameen Bank borrower and small poultry farmer, and his father, who sells the poultry from the farm at the local market.

Shamim remains confident that he will do well on his exam because his family is rooting for him. His favorite subjects in school are biology and physics, and he hopes to get accepted to the prestigious and competitive Dhaka Medical College after high school.

Shamim proudly showed me off the gourd growing on top of their tin house that his mom is tending after -- December 2009

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Selim in front of his home -- December 2009

Selim Hasan is an 11th grader with a perfect grade point average.

However, he overcomes incredible odds to earn and maintain his grades. The eldest of four children, Selim lives in a small hut which is divided into two rooms—one room for his parents and three siblings, the other for him, his small bed and desk, and the two family cows. There is no electricity in the home, so Selim’s eyes strain as he studies at night by the help of a kerosene lamp. He receives funds from the Grameen Foundation Scholarship Program, but the family’s financial position is so dire that Selim’s teachers pool their own money to help the aspiring optometrist to stay at school. Selim’s perseverance and drive are both fueled by his desire to set an example for his younger siblings.

There is no electricity in the neighborhood, so Selim either takes advantage of daylight to finish his school work or relies on a kerosene lamp noting that it causes a strain on his eyes. He shares his room with the two cattle that they own for fear that they get stolen -- December 2009

Selim’s room is on the right side. The cattle is brought back into his room after dusk

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation

GRAMEEN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Yusuf with his parents in front his home -- December 2009

The single light bulb in Yusuf Ali’s tiny bedroom provides the only light source for his family’s entire home. At night, his eyes hurt from trying to read under such a meager light source. He admits that a table lamp would make a world of difference. Because of Yusuf’s excellent grades and his family’s dire financial condition, his teachers pooled their own money for years to fund his education until they heard about the Grameen Scholarship Program. In addition to money from the scholarship program, Yusuf has been awarded the “Junior Talent Scholarship,” a monthly government-sponsored scholarship of $4. He often recites his favorite poem, “Contemplation,” which helps to keep him focused on his studies and his dream of one day becoming a doctor.

Yusuf read me a beautiful poem titled “contemplation” and noted that a table lamp would make the whole difference in the world for him -- December 2009

Grameen Foundation USA • 50 F Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA Contact: Sabrina Quaraishi | Tel: +1‐202‐628‐3560 ext.157 | Fax: +1‐202‐628‐2341 | Email: squaraishi@grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameenfoundation.org/what­we­do/grameen­shikkha To donate: www.grameenfoundation.org/scholarshipdonation