Posts Tagged socialbusiness
Visit to Pakistan to arrange a Social Business
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Photos, Projects, Social Business, Thalassemia on May 17th, 2010
By Lawrence Faulkner
I should have left for Islamabad via London on Sunday the 9th May, but the Icelandic volcano had other ideas! I had almost given up but by the afternoon the level of ash seemed to reduce so I booked a new flight the next day via Rome Fiumicino. Excellent decision, I arrived in Karachi via Dubai on Tuesday the 11th at 4.30 in the morning, a car from the hotel was waiting for me. I slept for a couple of hours, then I met Sadaf at the hotel to go to meet Tahir Shamsi and his colleagues at the National Institute for Blood Diseases. We spoke of the various patients and future prospects, very interesting, we are all thrilled with the results. All of the children who have received transplants are doing very well. I met with a family of a child with low risk thalassemia and a matched donor, they are rich and want to go to Italy, I try to convince them that there is no reason for them to do this, I don’t know if I have succeeded.
In the early afternoon a meeting with Ali J Siddiqui, a brilliant young Pakistani and a Director of a large company, the JS Group, and member of the Board of Directors of the Acumen Fund. He seems very interested in our activities and is sensitive to this issue. I will present a brief proposal, which he has pledged to consider carefully. Acumen Fund is a large non-profit organization geared to support projects that have a high probability of financial autonomy in the long term, their tools are loans and partnerships in projects geared towards social enterprise. The meeting was very interesting, so much so that I missed the plane to Islamabad.
The next morning I awoke at 5am and again to the airport, off to Islamabad for a same day to meeting, firstly to meet with the Directors of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and then in the afternoon, with the Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Prati, who is always very helpful and hospitable. The doctors and nurses of the bone marrow transplant unit “Simone Montomoli” appear to be very happy and very motivated. They have good reason to be, I am very proud of what we are doing together and especially how we have used the donations and the trust of our many supporters.
Together with the administration of PIMS we discuss a plan to gradually make them independent, financially and professionally, the bone marrow transplant service that is now running with 12 transplants already performed. On Saturday morning a small symposium on thalassemia and transplants involving many people including coordinators from thalassemia centers such as doctors Atifa Shuaib and Tahira Zafar, the latter had worked earlier in PIMS and has seen the birth of our project.
In the evening we are invited to dinner by Sara Rezoagli, head the Italian delegation in Pakistan (Deputy Ambassador), where we spend a pleasant evening getting to know other Italians who were in Islamabad for different reasons.
During this visit I am even more motivated, I go back with new ideas and plans for the next step. Whilst travelling I read the new book by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, “Building Social Business”, in which which he has devoted an entire chapter to Cure2Children, I still can not believe it!
The first thesis on Social Business and the case of Cure2Children at the Bocconi
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Social Business on May 14th, 2010
by Eugenio La Mesa
In order to change the world for the better, it is crucial to influence thinking in universities, suggesting to young people the alternatives to traditional models. Grameen Creative Lab and Professor Yunus devote a lot of energy to establish relationships with leading universities around the world.
I am therefore particularly pleased that James Bartolini, a student at the Bocconi University, Faculty of Economics, Bachelor in Business Administration and Management (CLEAM) has decided to write his thesis not only on social business, but particularly on Cure2Children. The name of the course is “Social responsibility in enterprises, public sector and non-profit taking” by Francesco Perrini and the title of the thesis is ” The application of the Grameen model in Social Business: The case of Cure2Children ”
Giacomo listened to my speech on the 8th March at the Bocconi University, during the Social Business Lab, he was impressed, and then contacted me to tell me that he wanted to write his thesis on these topics, I gave him my availability, indicating book titles and websites, as well as continuous exchange of emails and some phone calls.
Congratulations to Giacomo and to the initiative of Prof. Perrini, which I hope will be imitated in Italy and abroad from other students.
For my part, I am doubly pleased to see that my testimony has been able to make someone reflect, and who then decided to write a thesis, apart from the fact that, the Social Business for the cure of Thalassemia we are doing together with Grameen in Bangladesh and Prof. Yunus, has been able to attract the attention of such a prestigious university.
Cure2Children moderate the Klassentreffen session of “Healthcare & Social Business” at the Grameen Creative Lab
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Social Business on May 11th, 2010
by Eugenio La Mesa
On 8th May, I attended the Klassentreffen (Social Business Lab) organized by Grameen Creative Lab in Wiesbaden (Germany), with over 200 people from across Europe.
I moderated the session on “Healthcare & Social Business“, on how to use the model of social business to improve healthcare in both poor countries and in the West, I also followed all of the other sessions (I particularly liked the one on “Social Media & Social Business). I did some networking getting to know so many interesting people who have the same passion for social business designed by Prof. Yunus.
I again wish to thank all the staff at the Grameen Creative Lab (starting with Hans Reitz and Saskia Bruysten) that have given me the opportunity to share my experience and to make many new contacts for the development of Social Business in the cure of Thalassemia, which sees Cure2Children as a world leader.
Yunus’ new book “Building Social Business”, a Chapter on Cure2Children
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Bangladesh, Projects, Social Business, Thalassemia on May 5th, 2010
by Eugenio La Mesa
In his new book, just released, “Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs“, the Nobel laureate Yunus has dedicated a whole chapter of 15 pages to Cure2Chlidren on the social business we’re doing together with Grameen in Bangladesh and the treatment of thalassemia by Bone Marrow Transplantation.
They cited several times Lawrence Faulkner, Peter Sodani, Eugenio La Mesa, Sadaf Khalid and Prof. Guido Lucarelli.
A huge thanks to Professor Yunus and Karl Weber.
Spontaneous applause, for me strong emotions at the Social Business Lab @Bocconi
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Social Business on April 5th, 2010
by Eugenio La Mesa
As already communicated, on the 8th of March at the Bocconi University in Milan, a Lab on Social Business was held, organized by the Grameen Creative Lab, Bocconi University and the City of Milan, in order to spread knowledge on the concept of social business designed by Prof . Yunus. I was invited and I offered as a testimonial, given that Cure2Children is making a social business with Grameen in Bangladesh for the treatment of thalassemia.
The morning following the presentation of Milan’s Mayor Letizia Moratti, the Rector of Bocconi, Guido Tabellini and Hans Reitz (founder of Grameen Creative Lab and creative director of the Yunus Center), I spoke for 10 minutes and, just before the end of my speech , something happened that I really did not expect.
Spontaneous applause that can change your life.
museum of thalassemia
I showed the dedication that Professor Yunus had written in my copy of his book “A World Without Poverty” when I was in Bangladesh, in which he says we can all reduce this terrible disease, I titled the slide “Museum of Thalassemia” , inspired by his idea of the Museum of Poverty of which he speaks in the book.
When I said those words, I was interrupted by an intense, warm and spontaneous applause, which lasted a long time, to the point that I had to stop my speech. I was very surprised, as well as very happy, because I never imagined such a reaction.
This incident once again made me realize how important the work that Professor Yunus is doing is, and the hold it has on so many people, even in Italy.
Later, several people came to talk to me, giving me compliments, wanting to learn more and to propose possible collaborations, meetings, etc. Among them:
- Prof. Francesco Perrini of the Bocconi asked me to return in September to make a testimony with the students, and of course I’ll do this with pleasure .
- Ariana Cela, Economic Adviser to the Albanian Prime Minister, said she would consider making a social business in Albania for the treatment of thalassemia, and we have already initiated contact
- Marianna Benatti invited me to dinner for ‘Make A Change’ next month
In the afternoon I moderated a workshop of 2 hours devoted to social business.
Again I thank Prof. Yunus and Hans Reitz for their confidence and the opportunity, I am totally committed to the idea of the social business
Cure2Children Speaker at the Social Business Lab @Bocconi University, organised by the Grameen Creative Lab
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Social Business on March 3rd, 2010
By Eugenio La Mesa
At the Bocconi University in Milan on 8 March a Social Business Lab will be held, organized by the Grameen Creative Lab, the Bocconi University and the Municipality of Milan. The goal is to diffuse the knowledge of the concept of social business designed by Prof. Yunus and to stimulate people into making social business. The event is by invitation with some 120 people participating, half Bocconi students and half ONLUS, foundations, NGOs etc. invited by the Municipality of Milan and Grameen.
In the morning following the presentations by Mayor Letizia Moratti, the Rector of Bocconi Guido Tabellini and Hans Reitz (founder of Grameen Creative Lab and creative director of the Yunus Center), I will discuss the social business between Grameen-Cure2Children that we are making in Bangladesh for the treatment of thalassemia.
In the afternoon I’ll moderate a workshop of 2 hours devoted to social business.
This is further recognition for Cure2Children, of the work we are doing and for the cure of children achieved through social business.
I want to thank Prof. Yunus and Hans Reitz for the confidence and opportunity.
Grameen-Cure2Children a Partnership to win Thalassemia in Bangladesh: A defined action plan and the institutions involved
Posted by Lawrence Faulkner in Bangladesh, Social Business, Thalassemia on January 22nd, 2010
By: Lawrence Faulkner
At the Airport in Dhaka, there is a long queue at the visa checkpoint. The intense early morning fog has delayed many flights that all arrive together mid morning. I’m very tired, even the flight from Mumbai to Calcutta was late and I spent the night in Calcutta airport, an experience that I hope not to repeat.
Grameen has arranged my transport to a hotel near their building. I meet with Sultan and Shamim to take stock of the situation and discuss the agenda.
The next morning a visit to the Shishu Hospital, the Paediatric Government Hospital in Dhaka, where the Director General, Professor Kahn, appears to be very optimistic and committed to supporting the formalization of the agreement with the board of directors of the hospital.
Later in the morning a meeting with the General Manager, Managing Director and Head of Paediatrics, United Hospital to discuss in detail the action plan, we should start with the first bone marrow transplant in July 2010. This seems a realistic goal.
I must return in April along with other colleagues for a transplant seminar that will be attended by potentially interested physicians and nurses. In the preparation of the transplant unit and in the training, doctors and nurses from Islamabad will also be involved as they have acquired a significant experience in a similar context. This is the real goal, to create the conditions and tools such that the transfer of knowledge spreads, a great satisfaction for Cure2Children.
In the afternoon a meeting with the young General Secretary of the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation, Dr. Robin Rahim, with whom we discuss the selection process for screening candidates for transplantation and their families. I demonstrate to him the Cure2Children database and he becomes familiar very quickly.
At the end of the day Sultan takes me to Professor Yunus, who asks us a lot of questions about the progress of the project and in particular about how personnel issues will be faced, training and above all clear definition of roles. He seems very interested and determined, I feel that I’m one of his, with such a leadership we cannot fail. An intense day but very productive.
The program for screening and prevention will begin within a few weeks and the transplants within a few months.
The morning after, a tour of Old Dhaka, I’ve never seen traffic so chaotic. Everyone against everyone, crumbling but functional rickshaw’s, carts and Piaggio Api challenge cars and smashed up buses to go through streets only a few meters wide. There are also casual passers-by with incredible loads on their heads that defy the laws of physics. Every so often you manage to see a traffic light whose role doesn’t seem very clear.
You can understand how Bangladesh is the most densely populated country on the earth, 150 million people in an area half the size of Italy. It takes us 4 hours to cross the centre, including a break of 15 minutes at Lalbagh Fort. Some children really enjoyed that I took photos and they gave me flowers, a wonderful gesture equally appreciated.
In the afternoon I leave for Islamabad, incredibly, there is no direct flight between the two capitals, I have to stop over in Abu Dhabi.
Eugenio La Mesa notes of the meeting with the Noble Prize Yunus in Bangladesh to setup a Social Business to cure Thalassemia
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Bangladesh, Thalassemia on September 3rd, 2009
By Eugenio La Mesa
On the web we’ve published some notes about my amazing trip with Lawrence Faulkner and Pietro Sodani to Bangladesh, where we’ve met the Noble Prize Yunus.
We will create with him a Social Business to cure Thalassemia and we will help him for prevention, with the potential to save thousands of children.
Read the full article.