Maher Sattar: BRAC USA Intern

I grew up in Bangladesh, where BRAC is literally everywhere. My involvement with BRAC began in 2005 when a friend’s brother returned to Bangladesh to become part of BRAC’s Research and Evaluation Division (the much vaunted RED). He recruited me to help with his research, and soon I became acquainted with the desperate realities of a world I had been sheltered from for much of my life.

As with so many others, it is fair to say that my first experience with BRAC changed the way I thought about the world, and led to a quick reshuffling of priorities. I became a more socially and politically aware being, and after studying Philosophy at Wesleyan University, I renewed my involvement with BRAC as an intern at the BRAC USA office once I graduated. I hope that my experience here will provide a solid foundational understanding of the world of social development.

It is timely that BRAC USA is finally giving BRAC the visibility it deserves. A vast, omnipresent organization in Bangladesh – my sister currently studies Architecture at BRAC University – the rest of the world simply does not know enough about BRAC and the role it has played in poverty alleviation and in preventing Bangladesh from becoming, as Henry Kissinger once claimed it would, “a failed state”. In my opinion, the most important aspect of any development initiative is the potential for scaling up, and it is with regard to this that BRAC has succeeded better than any other organization I can think of.

These are exciting times to be involved in microfinance and development. We are receiving greater attention and exploring greater possibilities than ever before. I'm sure that BRAC will continue to be at the forefront of the work done in this innovative and inspiring field.