Grameen Bank women borrowers’ non-formal adult learning transformation in Bangladesh

2014 IJRSE – Volume 3 Issue 4

Author/s:

Rouf, Kazi Abdur*
Visiting Scholar, University of Toronto (rouf.kazi@utoronto.ca)
Associate Professor, Noble International University, USA

Abstract:

Grameen Bank (GB) is a micro credit organization established to address poverty to empower the poor women in Bangladesh. GB targets adult women who were illiterate. GB’s adult learning information has ‘Sixteen Decisions’ (inculcate the socio-economic messages) aimed at improving the social, economic, health, and well-being of GB borrowers. This Sixteen Decision adult learning campaign empowers GB women borrowers in their familial and communal life. It is important to know the efficacy of adult learning strategies that has used by GB to create this paradigm shift and transformation in local communities. How does the Grameen Bank adult learning process enables GB’s women borrowers to mobilize group solidarity, leadership development and apply the sixteen decisions in their daily life? The study finds 87% GB women borrowers were able to make better family decision on behalf of the entire family. 25% of women vice-chairs won in local in Upzilla counsels in 2009 election in Bangladesh. This statistics indicate that gender changes are happening as women are becoming successful in representing their family and holding public offices in patriarchal Bangladesh. Exponential improvements in literacy is happening, (100%) of GB borrowers are able to sign their names on the documents which show signs of achievements in adult learning. However, if GB non-formal adult learning strategies could streamline, this would generate more socio-economic consciousness and environmental awareness and social justice reforms to improve the life of GB women borrowers in Bangladesh.

Keywords: adult learning; Grameen bank; family space; leadership development, micro-credit; sixteen decisions

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2014.795

*Corresponding Author