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Grameen Telecom Trust- Reflections till 2015
Grameen Telecom TrustReflections till 2015
Social Business Program Updates Members of Grameen Telecom Trust Participated in the 7th Global Social Business Summit Participation of GTT Team Member in Youth Summit
Nobin Udyokta Highlights Investment Agreement with Nobin Udyoktas
Grameen Telecom Trust Brief Board Meeting of GTT-21st & 22nd board meeting. Screening Exercise of Nobin Udyoktas In House Executive Design Lab held outside Dhaka for the First Time Delegates from Chen Yidan Foundation, Hong Kong visited GTT premises Grameen Telecom Trust welcomes the Entourage Members of Honorable Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Perak Grameen POSHRA Signed Dealership Agreement with Ariba Traders Induction Training for the new field employees of GTT Training on Effective Communication & Task Management by Outlook
Happy New Year 2016 ! We hope you all are as excited as we are about 2016. With the aspiration to create a sustainable world since 2010, Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) is working relentlessly to uncover one solution after another for the swarming social problems in the country through the implementation of social business. The year 2015 ended with more than thousand Nobin Udyokta (New Entrepreneurs) signing investment agreements with GTT and driving in economic growth of the country. GTT has created a fund to support Nobin Udyokta (NU) or next generation of potential entrepreneurs. The aim of this fund is to support children of Grameen Bank borrowers to undertake sustainable business and become entrepreneurs. They may scale up existing family business or take up new innovative ventures. In the process they would create jobs beyond family members. The total number of NU has reached One Thousand One Hundred Seventy Six (1176) as of 31st January, 2016. Nine (9) Social Business projects of GTT are running under Social Business Learning & Innovation Fund (SBLIF). SBLIF has been created to encourage innovative enterprises to undertake social businesses. GTT already has started recouping money from the
profit of the first social business project and the fund will be utilized to create further social business projects in the same area so that the dream of setting up a social business village is achieved. In 2014, GTT redesigned Grameen POSHRA to create market linkage for the products produced by SBLIF projects and NUs. Grameen POSHRA strives to create a value chain for products while working in clusters to promote entrepreneurs within the industry. Also, the construction work under the Project Infrastructure Development has started moving fast & we have also completed publishing seven (7) issues of English E-Newsletter “Kaleidoscope” & four (4) Issues of Bengali Newsletter “Nobin” which are all available in GTT website: www.gtctrust.com. GTT continues to change the image of women, allowing them to experience a sense of liberty, be a face of empowerment and an active participant of breaking free from the gender norm in the society. In addition GTT is trying to bring positive changes in the lives of small tribal communities from Chittagong Hill Tracts, Naogoan to Thakurgaon, students, small milk producers, handicraft industry and rural marketing ladies and so on. By creating job opportunities for many and investing in social business projects GTT has been successful in touching the lives of approximately 45,000 people.
Zirabo site visit by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus
But that is not the finish line. It is just the inauguration of building a sustainable tomorrow. GTT plans to further accelerate building the infrastructure. Construction work at the Social Business Convention Center (SBCC) in Zirabo, Gazipur is going on at full pace as the upcoming Social Business Day, 2016 will be held there on 28-29 July, 2016. Chairman of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT), Professor Muhammad Yunus visited the construction site of Social Business Convention Center (SBCC) on 2nd February, 2016. Also present were Managing Director of GTT, Ms. Parveen Mahmud & CEO of GTT, Mr. Ashraful Hassan along with the other senior members of Grameen family Furthermore, infrastructure work at “Health Complex One Project” in Diabari, Gazipur, and construction of the “Telecom Bhaban” in Mirpur, Dhaka & “Jobra Convention Centre” in Chittagong among the many other projects are in pipeline. GTT plans to establish 21 NU field offices around Bangladesh invest in more than 2500 new Nobin Udyoktas, invest in at least five (5) more social business projects under SBLIF and set up the first social business village in Udakhali, Gaibandha. Grameen Telecom Trust plans to build a better tomorrow and bring in the change with focus on zero unemployment, zero poverty & zero carbon emission. We would like to thank everyone for their support till now and would like to end with a quote of our Honorable Chairman, Professor Muhammad Yunus- “Making money is happiness; however making other people happy is super happiness.” PAGE
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Social Business Program Updates Members of Grameen Telecom Trust Participated in the 7th Global Social Business Summit
Grameen Family at the 7th Global Social Business Summit
With the theme of “Creating a World without Poverty & Unemployment� the 7th Global Social Business Summit (GSBS) took place at the Tempelhof Airport in the city of Berlin, Germany, from November 4-7th, 2015. The four-day event, explored how social businesses can address each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were unveiled in September by the United Nations. The SDGs are a set of ambitious but achievable milestones that can change the world if carried out properly. SDGs will assist to eradicate poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and combat climate change. Grameen Creative Lab in Germany and the Yunus Centre in Bangladesh are organized the event in partnership with German tourism agency visitBerlin, the YY Foundation of Germany and Yunus Social Business. More than 1,000 participants from around 70 countries attended the programme. Some of the employees PAGE
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of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT), mainly Managing Director of GTT, Ms. Parveen Mahmud, CEO of GTT, Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan, Team Leader of Social Business & Program Support, Mr. Jayanta Kumer Bosu & Head of HR & Administration, Mr. Manjur Ahmed visited Germany to actively participate in the GSBS to make it a success. However, Chairman of GTT, Dr Muhammad Yunus was not able to attend the summit in person due to ill health. Despite his sudden illness, Professor Yunus was very positive about the success of the summit. Other than the SDGs, topics such as the Three Zeros (zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero carbon emission), the social business ecosystem, and fostering partnerships to create social impact was discussed. In the parallel session 1 'Spreading Social Business from Bangladesh into the World', on day 1of the GSBS 2015, many members of the Grameen family took part ISSUE
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like Mr. Huzzatul Islam Latifee, Managing Director of Grameen Trust, Ms. Parveen Mahmud, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom Trust and Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom. The session was moderated by Ms. Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director of Yunus Centre. In day 2 of GSBS 2015, Ms. Parveen Mahmud participated in the parallel session 5 “Social Business all around the globe - a status quo”. Ms. Parveen Mahmud & Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan also participated in the Social Business Learning & Innovation Fund (SBLIF) workshop in day 1 of the GSBS 2015, where they discussed about the social business projects under GTT and their impact in the society. Mr. Jayanta Kumer Bosu participated in the focus group discussion on Nobin Udyokta (New Entrepreneurs) workshop in day 2 of GSBS 2015 where he discussed the NU Program in detail and how the program is assisting in turning unemployment into entrepreneurship.
Participation of GTT Team Member in Youth Summit
Participants from Bangladesh in One Young World Summit
The 6th One Young World Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 18th to 21st, 2015. One Young World was founded in 2009; it is a UKbased not-for-profit that gathers together the brightest young people from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change. In this annual Summit the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other forward thinking organizations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counselors. At the Summit, delegates debate, formulate and share innovative solutions for the pressing issues the world faces.
The annual summit was attended by Ms. Naznin Akther, (Assistant Officer, Social Business) Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT). She was chosen through rigorous process of selection by Yunus Centre and was one of the ten delegates participating from Bangladesh. According to her, it was the most remarkable experience in her life which she will remember forever and a great source of opportunity to be part of the discussions and the learning sessions. The distinguished guests of the annual summit were former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, President of Mauritius, Bibi Ameenah Gurib, Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Anand Panyarachun, CEO of Unilever, Mr. Paul Polman, former Australian cricket captain Mr. Steve Waugh and many others. The main purpose of the summit was accomplished by discussing issues on education, environment, global business, human rights, leadership, governance, peace and security in several plenary sessions. It was a great platform for youths from all over the world to share their visions and experiences about contemporary issues like- social business, volunteerism, women and refugee rights, urban innovation, SDGs, disability, engineering into a zero carbon future, sexual wellbeing: AIDS/ HIV and so on. Terrorism, climate change, Social business and gender equality got the highest priority in 2015’s Summit agenda.
“Everything we have done is the reverse of conventional. They go to the city; we go to the village. They go to men; we go to women. They say people should come to the bank; we say the bank should go to the people. They say you need to be job seekers; we say you need to be job creators. Everything has to be done in the opposite if we are to save ourselves. Everything has to be done in the reverse way.” - Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus PAGE
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Nobin Udyokta Highlights Update: Investment Agreement with Nobin Udyoktas On 18th January 2016, at the 34th In-house Executive Design Lab of GTT/167th Design Lab (Yunus Centre) entourage members of Honorable Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Perak, Dr Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir witnessed the proceeding Lead by Dr. Mazalan Bin Kamis, CEO of Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR) & Dato Ismail Bin Saffian, Chief Executive of Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan (YBUDR) a
Malaysian delegates attended the In-house Executive Design Lab
team of Nine (9) members. Till 31st January 2016, GTT signed investment agreements with one thousand one hundred and fifty four (1176) Nobin Udyoktas (New Entrepreneurs). Nine hundred one (921) Nobin Udyokta (NU) businesses are already in operation. These aspiring entrepreneurs are all children of Grameen Bank families who plan to start new businesses or scale up existing ones. GTT under its NU Program is providing assistance to them through investments and other ancillary services. The aim is to establish the youth as entrepreneurs who will be self employed and beyond self employment will create jobs for others .
Nobin Udyokta (NU) Brief as on 31st January, 2016 GTT NU Working Area GTT NU Field offices in operation
Equity Contribution Breakdown 09 districts GTT 18
35 %
Nobin Udyokta
65 %
Gender Breakdown NU Field officers Currently in Field
NU Projects Approved
Average Business Size
Investment Recouped from NUs PAGE
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49 Female
1190
24
Male
1152
Total
1176
Employment Generation BDT.4,14,275 USD. $5,311 Number of NU 1176 ($1=Tk. 78) Additional Jobs Created 1123 193 Total ISSUE
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Grameen Telecom Trust Brief Board Meeting of GTT -
21st & 22nd Board
Meeting of GTT Held The 21st & 22nd Board Meeting of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) was held on 11th August and 25th November 2015 respectively. The 4th AGM was also held on 22nd November 2015. All the meetings were chaired by Honorable Chairman of GTT, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. All departments updated the Board of Trustees on various operational issues. After the presentations and discussions, the board took a number of decisions and set future plans.
Screening Exercise of Nobin Udyoktas The tenth (10th), eleventh (11th) and twelvth (12th) Nobin Udyokta (NU) Screening Exercise took place in Chauddagram Comilla on 12th September 2015, in Chittagong on 18th November 2015 & in Mirsharai
Chittagong on 28th November 2015. Thirty-one (31) potential Nobin Udyoktas (New Entrepreneurs) participated in the program in 10th NU Screening Exercise in Chauddagram. Eighty-three (83), NU participated in 11th screening exercise & seventyseven (77) potential NU joined the workshop in the 12th screening exercise. The workshops were conducted by the social business team of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT), lead by the Team Leader of Social Business & Program Support, Mr. Jayanta Kumar Bosu. Coordinator, Social business, Mr. K.M Saleheen also spoke in the session. In Patiya (Boalkhali, Anwar Upazila) the local chairman of Kushumpura union parishad was also present. This is a part of the Nobin Udyokta program of GTT that scouts young and inspiring entrepreneurs (belonging to the families of Grameen Bank borrowers) and supports them in setting up their own ventures by providing various forms of support and guideline. Our main aim is to turn them into job creators rather than being job seekers.
SAVE THE DATE Social Business Day 2016 July 28-29, 2016 Dhaka, Bangladesh
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In House Executive Design Lab held outside Dhaka for the First Time On 23rd December 2015, Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT), conducted the 29th In-house Executive Design Lab of GTT/156th Design Lab (Yunus Centre) at SKS Training Centre in Bharat Khali, Gaibandha. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Parveen Mahmud, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom Trust. Mr. Rasel Ahmed Liton, CEO of SKS Foundation & Mr. Akhil Chandra Barman, Coordinator, SKS Foundation were also present in the meeting along with the social business team of GTT. Seventeen (17) Nobin Udyoktas(NU), who presented their business proposals signed investment agreements with GTT on that day. First In-house Executive Design Lab in Bharat Khali, Gaibandha
Delegates from Chen Yidan Foundation, Hong Kong visited GTT premises
On 3rd February 2016, delegates from Chen Yidan Foundation, Hong Kong visited GTT premises to know more about the innovative concept of Social Business & Nobin Udyokta program at the 39th In House Design Lab of GTT/180th Design Lab (Yunus Centre) at the Social Business Learning Centre (SBLC) of GTT. Twenty Five (25) Nobin Udyoktas (NU) signed investment agreements on that day.
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Grameen Telecom Trust Welcomes the Entourage Members of Honorable Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Perak
Entourage Members of Honorable Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Perak visiting Grameen Telecom Trust
On Thursday, January 14th, 2016, Entourage Members of Honorable Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Perak, Dr Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir visited Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) premises to know about the activities of GTT. Dato Saarani Bin Mohamad, Perak State Executive Council, along with Dr. Mazalan Bin Kamis, CEO of Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR) & Dato Ismail Bin Saffian, Chief Executive of Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan (YBUDR) lead the team of fourteen members who visited GTT.
and reflection of work till 2015 was shared. Then Mr. Manjur Ahmed (Head of HR & Administration) spoke about the organogram & different departments of GTT and Mr. Jayanta Kumer Bosu (Team Leader, Social Business & Program Support) described the Social Business Projects and Nobin Udyokta Program in brief. Finally, Mr. Sultan Ahmed Bhuiyan (CFO & Board Secretary) spoke about financial procedure of the programs. There was also a question answer session were the delegates cleared all doubts and were really happy about the activities undertaken by GTT.
The meeting was presided by Ms. Parveen Mahmud (Managing Director, GTT), who greeted the visitors and a brief presentation describing the journey of GTT
The delegates thanked GTT for their presentation and also presented Ms. Parveen Mahmud with a small gift as a token of appreciation.
Training on Effective Communication & Task Management by Outlook On 9th Dec, 2015, an in-house training on “Effective Communication & Task Management by Outlook� was undertaken for the employees of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) at the Social Business Learning Centre (SBLC). This arrangement was made to provide an introduction to use of office outlook and how it can be used efficiently. The training was conducted by Assistant Manager of IT, Mr. Muhammad Faisal Alam and a total of 33 participants from GTT attended the session.
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Training/Induction for the New Employees of GTT From, January 4th – January 7th 2016, training/induction for new employees of GTT was held at the Social Business Learning Centre (SBLC) of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT). The four day long training program had fifty seven (57) participants in total where 55 field level employees who look after the Nobin Udyokta (NU) program and 2 interns participated. Ms. Par vee n M a h mu d (Managing Director, GTT) greeted the new employees at the opening ceremony. She had some words of encouragement for the new employees and welcomed them all as part of the GTT family. This training was provided to the field level officers so that they are able to operate the Nobin Udyokta program smoothly. The training was conducted by MD of GTT & Team Leader, Social Business & Program Support, who described the Social Business Projects and Nobin Udyokta Program & policies and procedures. CFO & Board Secretary described the financial procedure of the programs. There was also a guest speaker, Ms. Nazneen Sultana, MD of Grameen Communication who briefed on the social business monitoring system and the process how NU reports can be generated. On 7th January, 2016, the employees received an overall induction from the Head of HR & Administration, where they learnt about the HR policies and procedure. Also, they received briefing from all the department heads of GTT, who introduced responsibilities & briefed on the works of individual department. Mr. Md. Ehsanul Bari, MD of Grameen Krishi Foundation graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest. Ms. Parveen Mahmud & Mr. Bari distributed certificates at the closing ceremony of the training to all the participants.
Published by Grameen Telecom Trust Advisor labi, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 | Tel: 88 02 9034733 | 9034744 | Fax: 88 Professor Muhammad Yunus
Corporate Office : House-132, Road-2, Block-A, Section-12, Pal02 9023916 | Email: info@gtctrust.com Web: www.gtctrust.com/|www.socialbusinesspedia.com/ Follow us on: facebook.com/gtlctrust | twitter.com/ GrameenTelTrust
Executive Editor Parveen Mahmud FCA
Editorial Team Manjur Ahmed Jayanta Kumer Bosu Abu Md. Munayeem Muhammad Faisal Alam