Girls' education: A fundamental right, and a climate change solution
Our young women leaders are working to improve food security and climate resilience in hard-hit rural school communities, supporting more children to complete and succeed in school. In a context where only 5% of girls from the most disadvantaged communities finish secondary school, education can be the ‘silver bullet’ that opens opportunities and breaks the cycle of poverty.
The film, made possible by our partner King Philanthropies, and created by Pique Action, features interviews with CAMFED leaders — CEO Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa and sustainable agriculture expert Esnath Divasoni — both from Zimbabwe.
Agriculture Guides like Esnath are young women who have completed school with CAMFED support and have developed their expertise in sustainable agriculture. They are bolstering climate resilience and food security in communities vulnerable to climate shocks, improving nutrition and helping children stay in school.
Esnath supported the development of our youth-led approach to climate education, launched with ministries of education in Zimbabwe and Zambia. She also represented her fellow Agriculture Guides and experts when she accepted a UN Global Climate Action Award in recognition of young women’s leadership for climate-smart agriculture.
Education is everything! Every child deserves the right to see how far they can go with their lives.Angeline Murimirwa, CAMFED's CEO
Our sustainable farming experts are sharing their knowledge with communities across Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Each trained Agriculture Guide reaches at least 10 young women in her local district with training in climate-smart agriculture. Together they reach hundreds more community members and farmers, helping build climate resilience in their communities
By the end of 2023, Agriculture Guides and CAMFED Association Community Trainers had reached more than 103,000 people with vital information on climate-smart farming techniques.
By the end of 2024, 2,750 CAMFED Association members had trained as climate-smart Agriculture Guides.
Chief Mushonga of Nyanga district, Zimbabwe, recently presented more than five hectares of land to agriculture experts in the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support. This generous allocation will enable them to establish a climate-smart Agricultural Hub, helping to create financial security and providing nutritious food to the community. At a handover ceremony last month — joined by CAMFED Zimbabwe’s Co-Executive Directors, Justina Hama and Tafadzwa Mbishi — CAMFED Association leaders outlined their vision for this sustainable venture.
Discover the plans for our new Agricultural HubDiscover more about girls' education and climate action this Earth Day
My name is Esnath and I am a climate game changer in Zimbabwe. As a member of the CAMFED Association, sustainable agriculture expert and entrepreneur, I am a role model to girls and young women in my community who aspire for a brighter future as leaders in climate action. I am a passionate advocate for girls’ education and I have experienced first hand the barriers girls face in staying in school.
The BBC 100 Women list includes some of the most inspiring and influential women across the globe. CAMFED graduate Naomi is part of our network of Agriculture Guides, teaching climate-smart techniques to help build food security and resilience to climate change in her community and beyond.
Hear from some of our experts in climate-smart agriculture in rural Zimbabwe - members of the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support. They are growing sustainable businesses and supporting community members with vital skills to improve their yields, nutrition and climate resilience, while protecting the planet. With their profits, our young leaders are sending more vulnerable children to school, and inspiring girls to dream big.
With CAMFED’s support through school, I’m now fulfilling my potential as an entrepreneur and run a range of successful businesses—including a fruit farm. Techniques like solar drying help me to add value to my pineapple crop and reduce post-harvest food loss, while being an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly solution.
February 2024
Riya Anne Polcastro explores how CAMFED’s Agriculture Guides are cascading climate-smart farming knowledge to rural, underserved communities. As trusted sources of information, they are supporting farmers to adopt multiple climate-smart techniques and combine them with Indigenous practices to improve crop yields and food security.
How does girls’ education drive climate resilience?
Find out what problems girls, women, and whole communities in rural Africa are dealing with in the face of extreme weather, and discover a powerful solution and how everyone in CAMFED’s global movement plays a part.
At an event held on May 2nd, 2024, in Accra and attended by high-profile partners, stakeholders, and journalists, CAMFED announced the launch of its climate-smart Agriculture Guide Program in Ghana.
Discover the stories of young Zambian women ensuring that all children — including those living with disabilities — can learn and thrive in a changing world.
CAMFED, in partnership with Ministries of Education in Zambia and Zimbabwe, has launched a new in-school climate education program, led by young women graduates.
Margaret Monaghan $10.9
Helen Lea $157
Julia Thompson $100
Joan Goldfeder $211
Bonnie Riggins $10.9
Michael Higgins $13
Cheryl Johnson $5.6
Amy Casciano $10.9
Valerie Turner £40
joyce Davidson $16.1
FRANK BAUDINO $26.6
Markus Rockström €37.2
Chiara Starvaggi Cucuzza €37.2
Bonnie Hollrah $52.9
Karen Thomas $158
