I began to question whether or not such negative statements obtained any truth. Perhaps Bangladesh really wasn't what my parents always described it as being -- endless green land, rivers that flow on forever and gradually blend in with the horizon, breathtaking sunsets and the divine purity of morning dew that can make someone's day a little brighter. It was time for me to reassert this captivating image in my mind and correct those that held an inaccurate illusion of Bangladesh.

After my first year in college, I applied for a summer internship at Grameen Bank through an international grant programme at Wellesley College. Luckily, I was selected for the programme. This was the beginning of an unforgettable summer. As a Grameen intern, I learned all about micro-credit, which extends small loans to very poor people, especially women, for self-employment projects that will create a sustainable source of income for the woman and her family, and how it is implemented both within the country and around the globe. Soon enough the drawbacks of micro-credit also became apparent as it is difficult to successfully implement micro-credit in urban areas where the population is transient. It is also challenging for the Bank to target the "poorest of the poor" who often have no permanent residence; therefore, fail to provide a social collateral required by the Bank. After learning the facts, I had the opportunity to travel to and stay at various remote villages. This is where I had the chance to talk to the borrowers of Grameen, learn about their life, visit their homes and witness how they are working towards lifting themselves out of poverty. The women are truly astonishing; never in my life had I encountered such zest and dedication that these women feel towards Grameen Bank. They work relentlessly to pursue their goals and to fulfil the trust that the Bank has bestowed upon them.

This is when I realised that there is a large disparity between the perception of the Western and the rest of the world on how they view "poor" people. During a conversation with Professor Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, he expressed that when he thinks of poverty he sees "a woman with tremendous capacity and when she is given the opportunity, she blossoms." On the contrary, when most opulent nations think of the poor, they think of futile individuals who lack the ability to support themselves and their families.

Grameen Bank is quite unique in that it is different from most commercial banks. The Bank doesn't require any credit history or monetary collateral; rather it gives out loans based on trust and accountability that the members have for one another. Despite natural calamities, the Bank continues to stand strong, which indicates its resilience. Professor Yunus believes that the money is coming back because "the people find it meaningful." They have learned to trust the Bank and to utilise its benefits properly to help themselves. When asked about Grameen's future, Professor Yunus is optimistic and believes that the new loans for education will prevent people from slipping back to the vicious cycle of poverty. "The first generation we're working with can go upto a certain level because half of their life they had spent it with nothing. The second generation will keep their predecessors out of poverty and restrain them from slipping back."

The value of education is undeniable; it not only creates human capital but also stimulates technological advances both of which play an integral role in the overall performance of a nation's economy.

Upon my return to the US, before heading back to college I paid a visit to my high school teachers who were eager to learn all about my summer abroad. I made it a point to visit my life science teacher and to let him know that perhaps the GDP per capita in Bangladesh isn't quite as in high as the US or maybe the overall population doesn't own as many luxurious items but the spirit that exists among the people is much higher than one can calculate with numbers. To this day I'm not sure where I got the audacity to do, perhaps I became a little bit more empowered through my contact with the Grameen borrowers; all I know is that my summer internship has taught me more than I can anticipate to learn from textbooks. It gave me a real taste of the life of a Grameen borrower, who has an insatiable desire to work and to bring success into her life and her community.

Samantha S Huq of Wellesley College, USA, did her summer internship at Grameen Bank this summer.