Grace: I’m contributing to food security while showing that young women can thrive in farming

7 minute read

My story is not just mine — it represents countless girls and young women across rural Africa. By sharing it, I’m proving that disadvantaged girls can rise and transform their communities.

Growing up in the rural areas of Chiredzi district in Zimbabwe, life was never easy. I lost both my parents at a young age and found myself on the margins, struggling to make ends meet. 

My worries weighed heavily on me — whether I’d be sent home for not being able to pay my school fees, whether I’d have enough food to eat, or whether I’d miss school because I lacked menstrual products.

Yet a spark burned within me — a fierce determination to rise and succeed. Each day I walked long distances to school barefoot, often tired and hungry, but never losing sight of my dreams of becoming an educated leader. I knew education was my only path to a brighter future.

In my first year of secondary school, my teachers and community members noticed how much I was struggling, and recommended me for CAMFED support. That moment was a true turning point in my life. CAMFED covered my school fees and provided everything I needed to succeed—uniforms, books, and menstrual pads—so I could learn with dignity. 

Through CAMFED, I gained a support network that felt like family. I was guided by Learner Guides — young women who were supported by CAMFED in their education and return to their schools as role models and “big sisters” — and Teacher Mentors — government teachers trained by CAMFED in guidance and counseling. Their encouragement gave me hope that I could succeed in school and beyond.

After completing school, I wanted to stay connected and contribute to the movement that had changed my life. In 2015, I joined the CAMFED Association – a powerful network of young women leaders who, like me, were educated with CAMFED’s support and are now committed to lifting others as they rise. 

From a secondary student supported by CAMFED (left), to an educated leader in the CAMFED Association (right).

Succeeding together with my sisters

As a recent school graduate, one of my goals was to gain the practical skills to build and sustain businesses — not just for myself, but to help other young women become independent. That’s why I chose to study Business Management at the National University of Science and Technology. 

Arriving at university was daunting. Everything felt unfamiliar, and I didn’t know a single person. The first to welcome me were fellow CAMFED Association members who had already settled in. Connecting with other young women who shared similar stories made my transition so much easier. We encouraged each other throughout university–especially during exams. They became like sisters to me, and we continue to lift each other up to become the best versions of ourselves. 

My CAMFED sister, Winnie Farao, made a particular impact on my journey. Her visits to me at university were like a spark that lifted my spirits. She made me feel I belonged, that I was loved, and that I had strong support behind me.

Thriving in Business, Inspiring Others

Since graduating from university, I’ve launched my own farming and fashion businesses. I felt motivated by the challenges I saw among women in my community who depend solely on subsistence farming. A lack of access to farmland, quality inputs, information and finance remain big obstacles — but I wanted to show that women can thrive in agribusiness. 

Through CAMFED training, I gained practical skills like financial literacy, record-keeping, and leadership — but most importantly, I gained confidence. I learned that I could not only start a business, but also grow it and make it sustainable. At first, some doubted that a young woman could run a successful farm or business. But I stayed focused and let my results speak for themselves. Now, my community sees me as a role model. 

With the support of a grant from CAMFED, I was able to rent and prepare land, and purchase high quality cucumber and butternut seeds. Through hard work and dedication, I nurtured these seeds into flourishing crops – it has been so exciting to see the fruits of my labor!

I have expanded my agribusiness to include tomato farming, which has been highly successful – I now grow over 1,000 plants! By harvesting and selling my fresh produce at the local market, I earn a sustainable income and have achieved my dream of financial independence.

Here I am tending to crops on my farm.

Paying forward the benefits of education

I employ three people from my community to help run my farm and clothing shop. Creating opportunities for others is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. With the profits from my businesses, I am plowing back into my community by supporting three girls through school.

I use social media to market my products, connect with customers, and share my story. I aim to grow my clothing business into a widely recognized fashion brand, and to scale up my farm by diversifying production. 

While renting is my only option for now, I remain determined to one day own land and build a permanent base for my agribusiness. I hope to found a training centre, where young women pursuing agriculture can gain hands-on experience.

Stepping up as a peer mentor

Driven to support other young women on their entrepreneurship journeys, I trained as a CAMFED Business Guide. I support five women entrepreneurs in my community with financial planning and networking, so they can succeed in business, just like I have. 

I mentored a young woman who was working as a cook to start her own canteen – and it’s going from strength to strength! Seeing a young woman who once doubted herself become a confident entrepreneur is priceless. Today, she is supporting her siblings through school. That ripple effect is what keeps me motivated.

Nurturing my career and ambitions

Today, I work as an administrator for the Council of the Blind. I’ve also discovered other passions – I am a musician and a photographer, and I love expressing myself through these art forms. 

I am continually inspired by my sisters in the CAMFED family, like our CEO, Angie Murimirwa, and CAMFED Zimbabwe Head of Administration, Patience Jamu, who are advocating on global platforms. With their guidance, I am confident that I will achieve my dreams and continue to make a meaningful impact.

To our community champions and global supporters: Your belief in girls’ education has transformed lives — including mine. Girls who once walked to school barefoot, hungry, and uncertain, now have hope, dignity, and opportunity. Every investment you make not only changes one life — it ignites entire communities and shapes the future of our world.