Youth Can Change the World, CA Tells at Social Business Summit

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus encouraged young people to recognize their immense potential to change the world, addressing the 9th Social Business Youth Summit at Hotel Intercontinental Dhaka. “We can change the whole world, just within a few years... with the people in this room. It’s an easy task,” he told the audience of young representatives from 25 countries.

Prof. Yunus stressed the importance of taking the first step toward change, noting, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. The question is, how do we improve with the second step?”

Reflecting on the sacrifice of youth during the July Revolution, which led to the overthrow of a fascist regime, he commemorated the over 1,000 young lives lost and those who suffered injuries in pursuit of a new Bangladesh. He described the revolution as a historical movement, adding that the nation remains dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of its youth.

Prof. Yunus also welcomed the summit participants to Bangladesh, a country shaped by youth sacrifices, and urged them to envision their role in shaping a better future. “You have taken the first step by being here,” he said. “Now, the question is how to strengthen the second step and make it more confident as we move forward.”

He emphasized the power of imagination, saying, "If you imagine, it will happen. If you don’t imagine, it won’t.”

Prof. Yunus also reflected on the origins of microcredit and the importance of innovation in addressing social issues, such as the creation of an oral saline formula during a national diarrhea outbreak. He emphasized that social business is not about profit maximization, but rather solving societal problems.

“Making money brings happiness, but making others happy brings ‘super happiness,’” he said, explaining the essence of social business. He highlighted the growing importance of healthcare within social business, suggesting that the pharmaceutical industry should be viewed through this lens as it impacts human life.

Prof. Yunus encouraged the youth to think about social business ventures, stating, “Charity may have one life, but social business has an endless life. It addresses the same problems, but the money keeps recalculating, providing lasting solutions.”

He concluded with a call to action: “As we create a new Bangladesh, we also pledge to create a new world.”