TV star has big heart
Emran Hossain
Yeardley Smith, who has voiced the role of Lisa since its debut, was touched by seeing the faces of poverty in the world.
Photo: Shawkat Jamil
At 46, the actress, writer, painter and vocal artist known for voicing the role of Lisa Simpson in the 26-year-old hit American animated television series The Simpsons, is committed to working ever harder to help the poor of the world -- including Bangladeshis -- stand on their feet.
Yeardley Smith, who has voiced the role of Lisa since its debut, was touched by seeing the faces of poverty in here and abroad. "It makes me want to work even harder, so that I can be more successful; and then I have more resources to give," Smith told The Daily Star.
After visiting Haiti three times, Smith became a "firm believer" in micro-credit. She recently visited Grameen institutions in Bangladesh to witness how social business, micro-credit and micro-finance institutions changed poor people's luck.
A silent donor to many organisations in the United States over the years, Smith decided to use her reputation to promote micro-credit, as she believes "it's the best way out of poverty." Smith recently met Grameen Shikkha scholarship recipients, visited Grameen Danone, Grameen Eye Care Hospital, Grameen Shakti Solar Home System and Grameen Bank branches.
"I think that if you have an opportunity to get the message out -- about something that is worthwhile, that means something to you, that helps make the world better place -- then you almost have an obligation to promote that in some way," said Smith.
The idea of micro-credit, social business and micro-finance captivated her when she watched an interview of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on the popular Oprah-Winfrey show on television. "And I do think it's the next step, it's the future," Smith said.
For her the idea is "brilliant", as it ensures proper use of the money, improves the condition of a borrower, and at the same time keeps hope alive for others, as the money grows continuously during the process.
Smith donated $1 million to Grameen to help the poor. She does not mind that interest will be charged on her donation, as she thinks it necessary to keep the micro-credit business healthy.
"The thing is that the poor can't get loans from commercial banks. I actually don't think that interest rates are a problem. I think they are fair, and again, that gives the poor an opportunity to help other villagers."
Sharing her experience of development in Haiti, she said, "What you see in the faces of the women there who have received this lends at various levels, whether they are a long-term borrower or they are just beginning, is you see the light come back into their eyes; and, you know, its remarkable.
"It's so hopeful when you consider the enormity of the problem of poverty [. . .] And then you see the change that small loans make in these women's lives. It makes you feel like enormous progress is being made."
Smith, who made her film debut in 1985, plans to set up a women shoe factory, the proceedings of which would go directly to micro-finance institutions across the globe.
She thinks Bangladesh is more developed than Haiti, though the sight of slums from her hotel room in Bangladesh is very stirring to her compared with the US.
"But the one thing that strikes me about Bangladesh is that everybody is really busy," Smith says. "I hardly ever see anybody just sitting around. The population seems to be incredibly enterprising. Even the beggars are working out on the streets. By and large, people seem to be involved in some sort of work. They are not waiting around for somebody to give them a hand out."
Smith became professional actress in 1982 after graduating from a drama school. She received the Emmy Awards for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in The Simpsons in 1992.
Despite its poverty, Bangladesh has given something back to the actress, who was captivated by our hospitability. "I would say the hospitability has been amazing. I have never been served so much tea in all my life. It has been really fascinating."
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=148479
