Helping girls rewrite their stories, just like I did

5 minute read

My story is like a dream that has become reality

My life, it’s like a storybook. During the first pages of my life, my parents sadly died, so I lived with my grandmother in rural Zomba, Malawi. Life was hard. We faced a lot of problems like lack of food, and sometimes we would go to sleep hungry. I would wake up at 5AM and get ready for school without any breakfast, bathing in cold water to save heating water on the fire, and then start the long 5KM walk to school.

At my primary school, I worked extra hard and secured a place at secondary school.* This was a great achievement, but as a family, we did not celebrate much because we lacked the money to pay my secondary school fees.

It was here that CAMFED stepped in and paid my school fees from Form 1 until I graduated in Form 4. I was provided with all the necessary school essentials like stationery, school uniform, and new shoes—which made me look smart and feel confident around my peers. I also received guidance and psychosocial support from a CAMFED-trained Teacher Mentor.**   

Receiving support from CAMFED felt really good! That’s why, after my graduation in 2018, I wanted to volunteer as a Learner Guide (or peer mentor)—to help others. I also joined the CAMFED Association—the network of women leaders educated with CAMFED support—and I take part in philanthropic activities with my CAMFED sisters in Zomba Rural. 

As a trained Learner Guide, I volunteer regularly at my local school, delivering sessions with My Better World (CAMFED’s bespoke workbook), in sexual and reproductive health, and supporting students with mentoring and life skills. Having faced challenges to education myself, I am a relatable role model and trusted ‘big sister’ for them.

CAMFED’s My Better World program helps students to build self-knowledge, discover their talents, set goals and achieve them. There are a lot of important themes in the book of My Better World and we use it as a life guide. It helps students transition from one point in life to another. It’s a good book!

In my role as a Learner Guide, I run wellbeing and life skills sessions with students like Hamza, Joana, and Debora at my local school in Zomba Rural, Malawi. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Wood)

One example of a student I helped is a 15 year old girl who dropped out of school due to early pregnancy. I spoke to the girl, her family, and the Head Teacher and the School Based Committee to work out how we could work together to support her return. 

Firstly, we explained to her the problems that may arise if she leaves school permanently to get married, and that her life goals may be impacted if she marries so young. Secondly, I helped her build her confidence by showing her examples of young women in our area who had returned to school after an early pregnancy, graduated, and become civil servants, nurses, or teachers. She was really inspired by these community role models, some of whom are CAMFED Association members. 

I also got her a new school uniform and exercise books and we arranged that the baby could be looked after by the mother of the girl. Lastly, the Head Teacher spoke to the other students at the school to answer any questions and prevent any incidences of bullying on her return. Now the student has high self-esteem and she feels good about her return!

Another student I helped is called Debora, she was not attending primary school because she lacked school supplies and the required uniform. Together with the Teacher Mentor at the school, Gertrude, we discussed with the School Based Committee and were able to secure funds to buy her a new uniform and exercise books. Together, we visited her home and spoke to her mother to check everything was well, and then brought her back to school.

Gertrude (left), a CAMFED Teacher Mentor and a member of the School Based Committee (right) walks Debora (center) back to school wearing her new uniform and new school bag, provided by the School Based Committee. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Wood)

Through CAMFED’s Learner Guide and Business Guide programs, I have taken part in entrepreneurship training and gained access to small business grants. From there, I launched my own business selling dried maize at the local marketplace. I also buy goods from far away that people here might not otherwise be able to access, and bring them back to resell. I have done this for almost two years and it’s going well. I use the income generated to help my parents with essentials like soap. My hope for the future is to grow my business and help the community access useful goods. I plan to grow my business by reinvesting my profits and by securing loans.

Here in Malawi, we have experienced more than two years of drought due to the impacts of climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. This has caused crop failures and driven up the prices of staple foods like maize. My business was affected by the drought because the price of goods rose very quickly, which I was not ready for. But I managed to continue and I am helping to provide affordable food to my community.

I give back to my local community by taking part in meetings and raising awareness of the importance of educating girls. In future I wish to help with more activities that develop our community. I also want to help girls who are not going to school due to poverty, to go back by paying for their school uniform and shoes.

Me, student Debora (center), and Teacher Mentor Gertrude (right), in our community in Zomba Rural, Malawi. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Wood)

*Malawi faces a chronic lack of secondary school places, with only around 40% of eligible students being accommodated. (Center for Global Development, 2023)

**Teacher Mentors are government teachers with additional training from CAMFED in guidance and counseling, that help vulnerable students thrive.