Prof Yunus will discuss the concept of social business, solving social problems through a sustainable business approaches and feature different formats to introduce and discussing the potential social business holders for Bahrain.
Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the four-day event is co-hosted by Family Bank from September 16 – 19, in association with the Grameen Creative Lab, Ministry of Social Development, The Economic Development Board Tamkeen, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the University of Bahrain, said an event release.
Representatives of civil society, students, young leaders, businesses and the government are invited in order to explore social business, share perspectives and best practices and develop concrete social business ideas.
The first event of its kind will kick-off with a keynote address on by Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank.
The address will be followed by a panel discussion led by Dr. Atef Elshabrawy’, CEO of the Family Bank, Hans Reitz, Founder of The Grameen Creative Lab and Prof. Muhammad Yunus.
The discussion will focus on the potential that social business holds for Bahrain and the region. An interactive question and answer session with the audience will follow the discussion, said the release.
Hans Reitz, one of the panellists, spent seven years living in Southern India and can relate to problems of poverty, said the release.
Reitz has always engaged in social projects which accelerate responsible freedom. He was the initiator of the Talent-Project – a school program – in 2008. In collaboration with Prof. Yunus, he founded The Grameen Creative Lab in Wiesbaden in 2008.
The Social Business Week will also see Leonhard Nima who holds a diploma in Economics and has compiled a thesis on labour market policies for the European Commission.
Fritz Francke-Weltmann’s graduated in Development Economics and International Monetary Relations.
On September 17, the workshop will have Bahrain’s business representatives explore the concept of social business in the economic and social context of the Kingdom. The challenges of social business will be viewed at from a new angle.
The morning session of the workshop is expected to begin with an introduction to social business and presentations of best practice examples.
Reitz will bring an insight into existing social businesses. During the post-lunch session, participants will further explore the concept of social business, and work in interactive breakout sessions to develop social business approaches and strategies suitable for Bahrain.
The Youth Lab aims to bring together young leaders, students and university representatives. This workshop will identify social business solutions for the most pressing social issues of youth in Bahrain. The release said that it is important to register for the inaugural session of the workshops.