Hope in action - stories that inspire us to create a better world
Hope Prize’s Bright Side: Stories of hope, supporting CAMFED’s work for girls’ education
Join us in celebrating the stories that give us hope – and the people who are turning that hope into action.
CAMFED is thrilled to be the charitable partner of The Hope Prize, a global short story competition celebrating hope, courage and resilience, with an esteemed panel of judges including Julia Gillard, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, Dame Quentin Bryce, the 25th governor-general of Australia, and education activist Vee Kativhu .
More than 1,600 stories were submitted from around the world, with twenty shortlisted stories brought together in Bright Side, a new anthology published by Simon & Schuster in November 2026.
Bright Side is a celebration of the stories that remind us better days are possible – and of the power of hope to move us to action. That spirit is at the heart of CAMFED’s work, where young women are turning their hopes for a better future into action every day.
“Hope is not just a feeling, it's a revolution. To me, hope means challenging the status quo and believing in a future where every girl can fly.”Grace, CAMFED Association member
Hope begins with a story. Action begins with us.
From Day of the Girl (October 11, 2026) to International Women’s Day (March 8, 2027), we’re inviting you to bring people together around stories of hope, courage and resilience — to share, connect and spark action for a better world.
Read the Anthology
All royalties from Bright Side book sales are supporting our work tackling poverty, inequality and injustice through girls' education and women's leadership in rural Africa. Launching in November 2026.