October 11th is International Day of the Girl, which recognizes the rights of girls around the world — including the fundamental right to education.
This year, CAMFED is highlighting the inspiring story of Christina, a recent school graduate and aspiring doctor from Malawi. She has already stepped up as a mentor and role model to others, paying forward the love and support she has received from her family and her CAMFED school community.
Join CAMFED this International Day of the Girl and help ensure many more girls can live out their dreams and aspirations through education.
"I want to be a great role model in my community" - Christina
Before CAMFED, I was facing a lot of challenges. I lacked school fees, groceries, and once I was disqualified from school as my parents were not able to pay all the fees. After CAMFED stepped in to support me, I didn’t face any challenges. My performance improved and I managed to be the highest in most of the subjects, like history, English and French. My Teacher Mentor, Eliza, was just like my mother, because every time she was there for me — advising me, giving me guidance and counseling.
After graduating school, I joined the CAMFED Association — the leadership network of young women educated with CAMFED support. To be a part of the CAMFED Association is my passion now. I provide learning sessions to my fellow friends, because after finishing school, we young women face a lot of challenges. In the sessions we discuss different topics and my friends gain skills on how they can deal with those challenges.
There’s no better way to celebrate International Day of the Girl. If you want to support girls' dreams and aspirations, then join the global movement making it happen for millions of girls — right now!
As a member of our pan-African sisterhood, the CAMFED Association, Christina is one among nearly 280,000 of women leaders educated with CAMFED support. Together with community members, local leaders, government partners, and all in our global movement, they are multiplying hope and opportunity by ensuring many more girls can learn and succeed.
When I close my eyes now and see my future. I see it brighter. Brighter and brighter, that I need sunglasses to make it visible. Because since CAMFED is there for me, now I realize that I can reach everywhere I want.
Christina, CAMFED graduate, Malawi
Sharing the power of the collective — Listen to CAMFED's CEO Angeline Murimirwa on the TED "How to be a Better Human" podcast
In this conversation, Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa shares her inspiring journey rising to CEO of CAMFED – the very organization that supported her through school. She also introduces listeners to trailblazing women in the CAMFED Association sisterhood for girls’ education.
“Angie’s passionate about making it so that kids don’t have to have remarkable stories to get access to opportunities…The way she talks about making a difference and tackling big systemic issues, international issues, is going to be relevant to you wherever you live, and whatever issue you feel most passionately about.” — Chris Duffy, TED podcast host
More of the latest from our movement for girls' education
BBC News: CAMFED's Angie Murimirwa wins Africa Education Medal
Katie Prickett reports on CAMFED’s CEO being awarded Africa’s most prestigious education accolade. Angie heads up our pan-African, grassroots-led movement, which tackles poverty, inequality and injustice through girls’ education and women’s leadership.
IDRC and GPE: Turning education research into collective action
IDRC (International Development Research Centre) and the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) are supporting participatory action research that can accelerate progress towards gender equality. A new blog and podcast episode, featuring CAMFED’s Lydia Wilbard, explore how this works in practice.