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.
The thing that makes me happy in life is discovering new things, learning new ideas.
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.
I'm so happy about what my daughter has done. I'm very, very happy. You buy a lot of things, you pay school fees for her. You have done a good job for my daughter.
Flora, Esnart’s mom
Since graduating into the CAMFED Association, I have joined my sisters in philanthropic work such as cleaning at a local hospital. As well as getting involved in community development, I enjoy sharing skills and knowledge together.
Joining the CAMFED Association has been nice as I have participated in discussing business ideas and how to help develop my community.
Receiving so much emotional support and encouragement from CAMFED taught me that it’s good to encourage others. So after graduating, I went back to my former primary school to speak to the students and encourage them to work hard.
Members of the CAMFED Association (on the right) formally welcomed me to the leadership network during a ceremony at school. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Cardwell)
In October 2023, I took up a year’s contract as student teacher at a prestigious secondary school in Blantyre. Here, I lead a group of student teachers, and support students with academic work through discussions and study groups.
I hope to pursue my dream of studying at tertiary level, so I have recently applied for a course in Civil Engineering at the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa). I hope to hear back from them both soon.
To other girls who might be struggling in school, I would say, focus on what you want to be in the future, and then work extra hard to achieve that goal!
*Malawi suffers from an acute lack of secondary schools, meaning children often have to travel long distances to school.
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