Dr. Yunus attends Voice of Global South Summit via online

Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said they need to focus their plans on youth and students, who comprise a big part of the people in the Global South.

"Two-thirds of our people are young." These people have the most power in society. They are not the same. "They are dedicated to making a new world," he said on Saturday at the first "Leaders' Session" of the third "Voice of Global South Summit."

Prof. Yunus Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for building microcredit markets and joined the Summit online from Dhaka, said that young people and students are bright and technologically ahead of their parents' age.

"They can make anything possible." They have business ideas. They want jobs not because they want them but because there are not only so many options. This is because all of our countries' school systems train them for work, Prof. Yunus said.

Prof. Yunus, known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor," said that people often forget how creative they can be.

"However, all people are born with the ability to be creative." They are naturally business owners. Prof. Yunus said, "But our education and financial systems are only set up to make people look for work and give them work."

He told them that they needed to change their system and hoped that they could do it together in the global south, which has many young people who are very creative.

Prof. Yunus said that combining entrepreneurship with social business could lead to wonders. He also said that they would like to suggest some shared facilities in the global south so that actual steps can be taken to use social business to release the imagination and energy of young people.

Earlier, Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, asked Prof. Yunus to come to the Summit.

This was Prof. Yunus's first international event since becoming head of the temporary government.

The first meeting was held at the heads of state or level of government, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed it.

The main idea of the Summit, "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future," is also the main idea of the first leaders' session.

Prof. Yunus asked leaders from the Global South to collaborate to create social businesses that would solve the world's social and environmental issues. "If we all work together, it can grow into a huge force."

Prof. Yunus said that getting old should not mean "you must retire and stop doing useful things."

He said that creativity in people never ends on a date set by the government. "Until the last breath, it will not stop." We could work together to find ways to make societies that allow everyone to be creative for as long as they live.

The Nobel winner said that young people have made it clear to everyone that they want a revolutionary change, with all state institutions brought back to life to protect democracy and human rights through fundamental reform.

He said, "Our government is committed to ensuring a transition to an inclusive and pluralistic democracy and ensuring that free, fair, and participatory elections can happen."

Prof. Yunus told them they needed to change their schooling, business, media, local government, and voting system.

"Please come to Dhaka soon." You might miss something important if you do not. He also said that some parts of Dhaka have become the world's graffiti capital. Students and kids as young as 12 to 13 have been drawing pictures of a "new democratic" Bangladesh that is friendly to the environment on the walls of this 400-year-old city.

The Chief Adviser said there needs to be planning or direction from the top. "There is no help with the budget from anyone." This is just a show of how they feel and want to see the Second Revolution succeed.

He said they go to stores and ask the owners to buy paints and brushes for them. They make up the subjects and words, he said. "What they are painting will make anyone happy." Anyone can read into them what young people want. We need to make their dreams come true.

In 1952, Bangladeshi students gave up their lives to protect their language. All over the world, people fought for the right to speak their mother tongue because of it. Seventy years later, the Second Revolution, which was led by students, still motivates young people in the global south to speak out for democracy, human rights, equality, and shared wealth.

"It makes me proud to be the oldest "young person" in this revolution and help people reach their goals." All of you need to help them. "I hope they do well," Prof. Yunus said.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said this project grew out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas." It is based on India's theory of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

It plans to bring together countries from the Global South on a single stage to share their ideas and goals on a wide range of problems.

The first Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) was held in India from January 12 to 13, 2023, and the second VOGSS was held on November 17, 2023. Both summits were held online.

More than 100 countries from the Global South took part in both of the earlier Summits.