Malawi, located in southeast Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 80% of its population existing on less than $2 per day. It has the highest rate of child marriage in the sub-Saharan region. Research is clear: educating girls is one of the strongest ways to lift a country out of poverty; however, cultural practices often limit educational opportunities for girls. Sally Bryant has made annual trips to Malawi for the last decade, working to change the culture by training leaders in gender equality and improving educational practices.

Why should we care about Malawi’s educational statistics? If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, equaling a 12% cut in global poverty. Education is power.

Sally holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco, as well as masters degrees in Educational Administration and Theology. She has been a dean and instructor at a private university; led a global training program in the high tech industry; and most recently serves as a pastor at Saratoga Federated Church. She partners with Empower International to address the root causes of inequality and poverty.