Technology and Communications Team Log # 2

By: Lin Yue Wang

GLOBE is really a different experience from any other class. It gives a feeling of worthiness because I know what we do here is making a small difference. Yet this small difference might just mean the difference in the world for some others out there living in poverty. I like how we address ourselves as GLOBE Managers instead of students because it reminds us of the responsibilities we have, and I can see how this class truly connects with GLOBE Managers altogether. The meeting with the former GLOBE Managers last week was fantastic and sincerely helpful. I was very surprised that many of them showed up on a late Tuesday night just to talk with us, but that also proved their passion for GLOBE never stopped. I believe that is the reason why GLOBE is so much more than just a class. Besides the three credits it offers us academically, what it really means to do is to connect us with a whole different world out there. The world of poverty that we are accustomed to reading, hearing, and talking about is now in our hands and we are able to contribute in our efforts to alleviate it. Words mean something, but actions means so much more, which is why I think GLOBE is a great opportunity for a hands-on approach and to do our part no matter how insignificant it might initially seem.

One of the articles I read this week was “Here’s a Woman Fighting Terrorism with Microloans”. The title immediately caught my attention and I thought to myself, “How does someone fight terrorism with money?” Roshaneh Zafar proved it could be done. She killed the roots of terrorism by educating and creating jobs for the poverty-stricken. The picture is then easily put together; an educated person with a decent job is much less likely to become a terrorist! As of today, she has helped nearly 300,000 million families. That number did not just happen overnight and it sure was not easy. It took almost 20 years and she had to overcome many struggles. Nevertheless, she never gave up; she stood by what she believed in. “Charity is limited, but capitalism isn’t,” Roshaneh said. “If you want to change the world, you need market-based solutions.” The concept is simple, but it is hard to enforce and there is no doubt about that. In the article, “Microfinance is Down, But Not Out.” The author pointed out microcredit may be used for other activities rather than improving livelihoods. I believe it is true and it is definitely an issue that needs to be worked on.

Nothing is perfect to begin with, but it could be improved. Microfinance is fairly a new concept that we have to preach to the poor; it is our job to help them to understand how microfinance will truly benefits themselves and the society as a whole. People are normally afraid of changes; therefore, giving them a loan without helping them truly understand the benefits of it could result in a worse situation. Changes are to be made, improvements are to be made, but none of these will be implemented unless there is action first. The most important thing is to take the first step in believing in microfinance and then we will be able to look into the flaws and make transformations.