Yunus and his 'Cinderella moment'

This file photo shows Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and US billionaire Warren Buffett pose for photographs as they were honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy in New York on June 5. Photo: GHI

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus called his acceptance of the inaugural Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship at the UN in New York on June 5 “a Cinderella moment”.

“Making other people happy is a super-happiness.”, the Nobel laureate told the assembled audience as he received his prize, reports the Forbes magazine.

Yunus also talked about his pilot project where beggars will get loans of $5 to offer merchandise like cookies and candies. He expected 1,000 beggars to join the project but over 100,000 participated.

“Within two years, more than 25,000 beggars stopped begging completely. Because they become such a successful door-to-door salesperson”, he added.

The micro-credit pioneer also said that it is necessary to give people a chance to bring out their ability. He ended imploring the room of billionaires to "help others to help themselves."

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and US billionaire investor Warren Buffett were honoured before the world’s wealthiest business leaders at the second annual Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy in New York on June 5.