A summary of Speak Up for the Poor’s work in the field of girls’ and women’s education and empowerment. We run a Girls Education Program (GEP) for 1,700 girls and young women in Bangladesh who due to poverty are vulnerable to child marriage or child trafficking. (Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world for girls under age 15.) The GEP protects these girls from exploitation and abuse and keeps them in school instead through higher education, changing their future and influencing their culture toward equality for girls and women. The presentation includes stories of some of the girls of the GEP, and the tone of the presentation is positive and inspiring, since the GEP is making a tremendous positive difference. I am also happy to include time for Question and Answer if desired.

Dave is the Director of Development for Speak Up for the Poor. Prior to joining Speak Up in 2019, he graduated from UCLA and from Fuller Theological Seminary, and worked for Servant Partners. Dave previously lived for seven years in India and Bangladesh, learned the Bengali language, and grew to love and appreciate the Bengali people and culture. He is delighted to continue his connection to the Bengali people through his present work with Speak Up. Dave lives in Long Beach, CA, with his wife Mini, and his two daughters, Lily and Emily.