When she thrives, we all thrive
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A sisterhood of leaders for girls' education - IWD 2024 - Video Transcript
Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, Founding member, CAMFED Association and CEO, CAMFED In 1998, the first 400 graduates supported by CAMFED, the Campaign for Female Education, came together to form a powerful sisterhood, the CAMFED Association. I was elected to be the National Chair.
Fiona Mavhinga, Founding member, CAMFED Association, Executive Advisor, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe/UK Having known hunger, deprivation and the threat of child marriage, we pledged to support each other into positions of independence and influence.
Lydia Wilbard, Founding member, CAMFED Association, Executive Director, Learning and Engagement, Tanzania Joining forces with CAMFED and our communities, paying for the experience and the expertise to make the education journey easier for the girls that are coming behind us.
Primrose Mandishona, Founding member, CAMFED Association, Disability specialist, Zimbabwe Fast forward and today we are a movement of more than a quarter million educated women in Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Patience Chilambe, CAMFED Association, Zambia Members of our sisterhood lead CAMFED’s programs. Together, we provide financial, social, skills support to the most vulnerable girls and young women—in the classroom and beyond.
Pamela Mulimba, CAMFED Association, Zambia We are the role models that girls in our community need.
Lucia Punungwe, Teacher Mentor, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe I am the first female maths teacher in my community, teaching in the very school CAMFED supported me to attend. Now I mentor students and support them in the transition to adulthood. I’m one of thousands of teachers in the CAMFED sisterhood.
Hawa Tambo, District Councilor, CAMFED Association, Ghana I was the first girl to go to secondary school in my community. Because of me, a school has been built in my community and I serve as an assemblywoman in my electoral area. I am one of tens of thousands sisters in the CAMFED Association sitting at the decision-making tables.
Fatima Frank, Learner Guide (now teacher), CAMFED Association, Malawi I lost both parents at a young age. I was raised by a grandmother who valued education above everything, but had no money to send me to school. Now I am one of thousands of CAMFED trained Learner Guides, accompanying girls through school, building their self-confidence, study skills and agency, and now I’m working with my community to get them the tailored help they need to succeed.
Chise Kabungo, Learner Guide and Agriculture Guide, CAMFED Association, Zambia I would have dropped out of school like so many girls, whose families go hungry because rural farmers do not have access to enough land, knowledge and resources. Now I’m one of CAMFED’s climate-smart agriculture Guides, bringing sustainable practices and climate education into the classroom and also to rural farmers.
Esther Nadaar, Shea Entrepreneur, CAMFED Association, Ghana My mother worked so hard, selling shea nuts to make ends meet. Without an education, she was not able to add value, market and make a profit for her products. Now thousands of CAMFED Business Guides in our sisterhood support graduates to start and grow sustainable enterprises like my shea butter cooperative — creating local jobs, changing gender norms, and using the profit to send more girls to school.
Runyararo Mano, Doctor, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe As a young girl, I wrote a letter to CAMFED and pledged to do something great if given a chance. And I did it. I became the first medical doctor in our sisterhood and specialized in pediatrics. Now I’m involved in training young girls to become medical doctors, who will provide affordable healthcare to rural communities.
Rachel Banda, Nurse and Second Lieutenant, Malawi Defense Force, CAMFED Association, Malawi Growing up, life wasn’t easy. I desperately wanted to stay in school, but my parents struggled to afford food, never mind school supplies. With CAMFED, everything changed. Today, I’m a nurse and a second lieutenant in the Malawi Defense force. Like my sisters in the CAMFED Association across the African continent, I’m a beacon of hope and possibility, and I’m proud to inspire more girls.
Joana Gunab, Doctor, CAMFED Association, Ghana My childhood was marked with significant financial challenges that made accessing education difficult, as well as a medical error that left me unable to walk. However, the support, care and love from my family, I was able to mobilize again. With the support from CAMFED and our sisterhood I’ve been able to gain a university degree. I currently work as a medical doctor and I’m a proud disability advocate.
Leticia Amo, Welder and artist, CAMFED Association, Ghana As the youngest child, my education was far from secure. Then CAMFED stepped in so I could finish my education and follow my passion. Today I am a welder with my own business and teach metalworking skills to others. My sisters and I are showing that jobs don’t have gender. Together we can achieve anything!
Diris Martin, Senior Program Officer, CAMFED, CAMFED Association, Tanzania I lost my parents at a young age, and struggled to get enough food to eat and to keep a roof over my head. Education changed everything. CAMFED supported me through university and today I advocate for girls’ education in government meetings and in the media.
Lucia Punungwe, Teacher Mentor, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe I’m the first female maths teacher in my community.
Rachel Banda, Nurse and Second Lieutenant, Malawi Defense Force, CAMFED Association, Malawi I’m a nurse and a second lieutenant in Malawi Defense force.
Dr. Nafisa, CAMFED Association, Ghana Now I’m a medical laboratory scientist.
Leticia Amo, Welder and artist, CAMFED Association, Ghana I am a welder with my own business.
Felicia, CAMFED Association, Ghana I am a professional teacher.
Rachel Banda, Nurse and Second Lieutenant, Malawi Defense Force, CAMFED Association, Malawi I established my own company.
Gladys, CAMFED Association, Malawi I’m a professional journalist.
Chipo, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe I am a teacher in my community.
Victoria, CAMFED Association, Malawi I am a primary teacher.
Lydia Wilbard, Founding member, CAMFED Association, Executive Director, Learning and Engagement, Tanzania We make sure that no girl or young woman walks the path alone, and each of our sisters supports another three girls to school with her own resources.
Fiona Mavhinga, Founding member, CAMFED Association, Executive Advisor, CAMFED Association, Zimbabwe/UK Will YOU join us to champion girls’ education and women’s leadership? Because 95% of the most disadvantaged girls in rural Africa never complete secondary school…all their incredible potential remains trapped. Together, we can change that!
Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, Founding member, CAMFED Association and CEO, CAMFED We know, because we have lived it. The possibility of change is real. It’s time to be bigger, better, bolder, faster. By 2030, we aim to double the membership of our CAMFED Association, and send millions more girls to school. Imagine millions of girls, living their best lives, and paying it forward to millions more.