Saviour: Guiding a new generation as a big sister and health expert

Gaining confidence and courage as a leader

The Learner Guide role entails a lot — from delivering My Better World modules to the students (using CAMFED’s life skills and self-development workbook) to guiding them in their academics. When a student has a difficulty in a particular subject area, we are able to help. Recently, during school vacations, I’ve organized extra classes to help Junior High School students with English, mathematics and science.

Then and now: I have actively served as a Learner Guide twice, five years apart.

There was an instance where we discovered a girl at risk of early marriage, when her family could see no other way of attempting to relieve their financial hardship. As Learner Guides, we involved the school and together spoke to the girl’s parents. We referred her for CAMFED support as well as stepping in immediately with items that the girl needed to remain in school. I’m glad that she’s doing well and is preparing to write her final year exams.

Before the emergence of this mobile app, we used to complete printed forms with questions about which topics the learners most enjoy during sessions, and a monthly report including details of home visits we had made to students and their families. After that we would have to scan and submit via a message, or even take transport to deliver the papers in person.

For our sessions we used to carry copies of the My Better World workbook, the Learner Guide companion book and the work-readiness book all together, which was difficult. Now, I simply walk to school and access all the necessary info through the Hub. It’s a great feeling when you can lead your session successfully and smoothly without stress.

Here I am with other girls’ education leaders in the CAMFED sisterhood. [Credit: Chris Loades/Yidan Prize Foundation]

In rural areas a lot of women are not accessing antenatal services and deliver their babies at home, which can lead to complications. It’s fulfilling to be able to guide these women and see them give birth to healthy children.

The area I work in is more or less a village, and some of the girls there do not see a future in education because of the challenges they are facing. It can lead to early pregnancies and young mothers struggling to support their children. I’m very happy that I have been sent to this area because I can speak to young people, help them to change their outlook for the future, and use my example about what is possible through education.

Growing a business to bring stability to my family

Alongside my other commitments, I have managed to build a business where I employ my mother. It’s a food business, where we process flour and cornflour and supply vegetables and other groceries. We also rear a small number of animals. Using the profits I am able to support my younger siblings and family members, as well as others in the wider community.

This is my mom, Elizabeth, who helps me run my food business. [Credit: Chris Loades/Yidan Prize Foundation]

I’ve engaged in a lot of philanthropic activity with other young women in the CAMFED Association. We identify students who need essential items in order to stay in school. We take the initiative to buy new school uniforms or repair existing ones, for example. Personally, I’ve helped provide exercise books, pens, and other essentials.

I think about the way that I interact with another person as though we are two hands coming together. You need the left hand to wash the right hand, and the right hand to wash the left. So it is very important to help one another, because we can all thrive better together.