CAMFED's support revealed my potential and helped me succeed in school

3 min read

In the future I want to be independent, to help my family, and develop my community and country.

I’m Esnart, from Lilongwe in Malawi. I excelled in primary school, achieving high grades in my Primary School Leaving Certificate and was selected to attend a secondary school with boarding facilities (for students coming from far away, like me) in Zomba district*. However, my mother could not afford the fees and all the additional items I would need like books and uniforms. That’s when CAMFED stepped in to support me, and my life became easy.  

CAMFED provided everything; school fees, uniform, pens, paper and other basics, and continued to support me for the rest of my secondary education. My Teacher Mentor often encouraged me and it meant a lot, knowing she had faith in me. Receiving both psychosocial and material support from CAMFED motivated me to work hard in school, because I knew that I had the ability and potential to achieve my goals.

Learner Guides — young women, supported by CAMFED through education, who volunteer in their local school to help students thrive — would visit us, telling us their stories, which inspired me and raised my confidence.

I really liked the life skills sessions with the Learner Guides, using a book called My Better World — in particular, the topics of being assertive, confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness. Some of the challenges that girls in Malawi face include peer pressure, so these topics help girls boost their confidence and make decisions for themselves. 

When I was in Form 4, the last year of secondary school, I found out that I received the highest grade possible in my leaving exams — 6 points! I was so excited. At first I didn’t really understand the news, but then I realized that this amazing result was because of all my hard work. I was so excited, I even jumped! My mom was so happy that she danced and danced.

My mom is so proud of my achievement. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Cardwell)

Later I learned that I was one of only three students nationally, and the only girl, to be awarded such a high grade. 

At a ceremony in front of the whole school, I was congratulated on my achievement, and was also welcomed officially into the CAMFED Association — the pan-African leadership network of young women educated with CAMFED support — by Chisomo Luciano, the recently elected CAMFED Association National Chairperson in Malawi.