When she thrives, we all thrive
Together this giving season, we can make a difference that ripples outward to benefit everyone.
It followed the launch of the film in the US, and is part of a series of talks on solutions for our planet that feature in the film. At the center is the unrivalled combination of educating girls and empowering women. Portia was able to provide a narrative thread between these three key solutions, which are embodied in CAMFED’s programs, spearheaded by educated African women.
Watch the full panel session to hear Portia talk about CAMFED’s Agriculture Guide Program that “places women left, right, and center… CAMFED evidence shows that when you create responses that do so — that place women in the centre — you are most effective.”
Portia joined Damon Gameau, the film’s award-winning director; Eric Toensmeier, Senior Fellow of Land Use Solutions at Project Drawdown, and physician Zach Bush on the virtual panel, moderated by Sarah Mosses, CEO of Together Films. They brought together a range of experiences working in regenerative agriculture, which not only prevents the release of carbon into the atmosphere, but also actively sequesters it. Simultaneously, it improves soil quality, increases the nutritional value of crops, and drives up productivity. Panelists agreed that educational opportunities for smallholder farmers — who grow the majority of the world’s food — are vital to the roll-out of regenerative agriculture practices around the globe.
Portia pointed to CAMFED’s Agriculture Guide Program as a model for this, especially following our recognition with a UN Global Climate Action Award in 2019. It sees members of the CAMFED Association — the network of women leaders educated with CAMFED support — participate in training and cascade both Indigenous and innovative techniques to their communities. A small group of Agriculture Guides has already improved the productivity, sustainability and profitability of their own smallholdings and reached more than 8,500 individuals, mostly women and other young people, through demo farms, community workshops and mentoring. Summarizing the Agriculture Guide program, Portia concluded, “I can not overemphasize enough the gift of girls’ education. It gives women the confidence to step up in the climate conversation.”
As we enter a new strategic phase, CAMFED has committed to scaling the Agriculture Guide Program to reach many more young women, communities, and in turn children we collectively support to go to school and thrive.
Watch the 2040 film and make your action plan
Find out why girls’ education and gender equality are at the core of effective climate action
Melissa K Goodwill $52.9
Gladys Ayala $1052
Gabi Rizzuto $100
Linda Penn $100
Julia Pistor $31.9
John Dickinson $100
Chris Parrish $37.1
Sheila Eswaran $211
Barbara Bielby £26.2
Rumbidzai Kauta $21.2
Anna Gibson $52.4
jenna junker $10.9
Christal Sohl $500
Laurel Tacoma $31.9
Margaret Duggan $100