Susan Davis, President of BRAC USA, speaks at Microfinance Conference

Susan Davis, President & CEO of BRAC USA spoke at the third annual Microfinance East Conference in New York, NY on January 29, 2009. Alongside Michael Chu (Co-Founder & Managing Director, IGNIA Fund) and Mark van Doesburgh (Managing Director, Tripple Jump) Susan spoke about the future of microfinance, what tomorrow will bring and where deals might be sourced.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax rasies nearly $30,000 for BRAC Uganda

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia raised an amazing $29,934.24 that will support BRAC's education programs in Uganda. This incredibly generous donation will be instrumental in supporting our efforts in Northern Uganda to provide primary education to older girls who were abducted when they were young or otherwise unable to get an education because of the violence in the region.

Hear what some of the girls have to say:

Watch Uganda Girls Education v3 in BRAC USA | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Click here to read more about the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF).

Click here to find out more about what BRAC is doing in Uganda.

Thank you to all of the members of the congregation of UUCF!

Congratulations to Dr. Abed!

Fazle Hasan Abed was recently awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities from Rikkyo University in Tokyo. He will also be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford University in June.

Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, continues to amaze us with his ceaseless dedication to the organization. You can check out his full bio here.

Kappa Kappa Gamma Leads Students at Knox College to Raise nearly $2,000 for BRAC Safe Spaces and Small Loans for Girls in Tanzania

by Chloe Bohm, Knox College Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma

On the evening of October 24^th, 2008 the ladies of the Eta Kappa chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois brought students, parents, and other members of the Greek community together for their second annual “Win-A-Date” event. This year a total of $1,856.15 was to support Girl Effect through BRAC programs for Safe Spaces and Small Loans for Teenage Girls in Tanzania. The evening was the culmination of a week of fundraising through change wars between Greek organizations on campus.

The two members from each of the social Greek organizations Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, and colony, ATP, as well as from the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority volunteered to be hosts and hostesses for the dates. Local businesses donated dinner, movie, and bowling certificates, which were given as prizes to the winning bidders and their dates. Among the many generous donations made that evening was one exceptional date that sold for over $230.

Kappa Kappa Gamma highly values philanthropic endeavors and felt a special connection to this particular cause not only as women, but also from the personal experiences of its members. Emily Putnum’s (2010) travels in Uganda inspired the first Uganda Initiative event in 2007. Another member, Emily Jensen (2008) studied abroad in Tanzania in 2007. Kappa Kappa Gamma nationally supports Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org), an organization devoted to the gift of education for all. Kappa Kappa Gamma was one of the first women’s fraternities, founded at Monmouth College in 1870. With this in mind, Eta Kappa chapter was inspired by Girl Effect and is proud to support the education and empowerment of women internationally.<

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leads Rajiv Gandhi Foundation delegation on a visit to BRAC activites in Bangladesh

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of India's Congress Party Chairman Sonia Gandhi, arrived on 3rd February afternoon at Dhaka on a two-day visit to observe BRAC's education program. Priyanka was accompanied by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Secretary Gyanendra Bagdaiyan and Educator Sonia Phillip.

Upon their arrival at the Zia International Airport, BRAC Executive Director Mahbub Hossain, Director Ahmed Nazmul Hossain and high officials of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka greeted them. From the airport, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation delegates went to Savar to visit BRAC's pre-primary school at Charabagh village and cluster primary schools at Kumkumari village.

During their visit to the schools, they exchanged greetings with the children and observed the innovative teaching techniques being used in the BRAC schools. The children also performed songs and dances for the visiting dignitaries.

Later, they visited the refreshers session for school teachers at BRAC Research Training and Resource Centre in Savar. The delegates discussed training methods, the features and facilities of the institute with the teacher and their trainer.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is a trustee board member of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation , met with BRAC's Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed and other high officials of BRAC the following day at the Head Office in Mohakhali and discussed how BRAC's education program could be implemented in India and what type of assistance BRAC can provide in this regard.

Priyanka's brother and Congress Party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited Bangladesh in August last year and was impressed with BRAC's Education Program. Rahul expressed his desire to introduce a similar program in India, and Priyanka's Bangladesh visit was aimed at continuing the dialogue between the two organizations.

Sponsor BRAC Intern's Marathon in Antarctica to Benefit BRAC Adolescent Girls

Our former intern, Robert Lehman, is continuing his involvement with BRAC in an unusual and inspiring way: he is running a marathon in Antartica on March 10th. Please consider sponsoring Robert to raise funds for a revolving loan fund to provide adolescent girls in Uganda with BRAC microfinance loans.

The challenge - in Robert's words:

On March 10th, 2009 I will be running a full-length, 26-mile, marathon in Antarctica - the driest, coldest, windiest, and highest continent on earth. In this marathon I will face temperatures of around -5 degrees Fahrenheit, two kilometer-long 17% incline hills, and conditions that will vary from 40 mph winds to hip-deep snow and ankle deep mud. This event is described as ‘the ultimate challenge for marathon runners’, which I must say is just a little bit daunting given that I have never run a marathon…

The cause:

What is motivating me to take on this challenge is my heartfelt dedication to the ELA program that the non-governmental organization BRAC is launching for adolescent girls in Uganda. I had the fortune of spending two months last summer working on BRAC development projects across Bangladesh, and I was inspired beyond words by the organization's relentless commitment to empower the poor...

Robert has already managed to reach the half way mark toward his $10,000 goal. To sponsor his efforts to improve the lives of these girls, please visit his webpage.

Please spend a few moments and watch videos of two BRAC ELA members in Bangladesh.