Excerpt from a
speech given by Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess at the
“Midis de la Microfinance” Conference during a state visit
to Chile (23 November 2007)
“It is because microfinance awakens the creative
force which is a defining feature of humankind that I believe
that microfinance marks the dawning of a new age.
Charity and aid will remain indispensable tools
in the foreseeable future, but micro-credits are innovative
in that they enable the least fortunate to solve their problems
themselves and rediscover their dignity by becoming once more
active participants in life. In this way, we can open up new
horizons for those who had previously seen no way out.
But I would go even further than that. What
if we really are witnessing a profound break from the past,
a revolution even? The world to come would, of course, be
full of strife and upheaval, but could also be a place where
the fight against poverty is no longer confined to our dreams
but is a well observed fact.”
(French
version) |
