Hear from leaders in our pan-African sisterhood!

Marian, Queen Mother and Women’s Health Activist, Ghana

I ignite the power of women in my community through promoting good health and well-being. I am at peace when I see women and girls fulfill their potential without limitation.

Through my own leadership journey, I am showing that women have so much to contribute to building a better world. I serve as the Queen Mother — a traditional area leader — for Nsona No. 1 Royal Family in Amosima, and as the elected Chairperson of the CAMFED Association of women leaders in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Having achieved a bachelor’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at CAMFED Ghana, I am also thriving as a professional Physician Assistant, and my goal of becoming a gynecologist and obstetrics specialist is within reach.

In my leadership positions, I actively work to improve women’s health by educating the general public about breast cancer and menstrual health through TV and radio campaigns.

I am also the founder of Grace Medical Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting good health and wellbeing. I’ve been able to provide free health services to over 30,000 women and adolescent girls, and I have distributed menstrual pads and educational materials to over 400 girls in my region.

I provide mentorship to women and girls pursuing careers in healthcare, helping them reach their ambitions and benefit their communities.

Getrude, Business Guide, Zimbabwe

I volunteer as a Business Guide, sharing my skills and knowledge with other aspiring entrepreneurs in my community.

I launched my agro-processing business in 2020, starting small by hand-processing and selling pearl millet (a staple food crop in Zimbabwe). Through enterprise development training and reinvesting a small business loan from CAMFED, I grew my monthly profits from around $60 in 2020, to $1000 by 2023. I scaled up my production to include sorghum, brown rice, and peanut butter, and opened a shop in Harare’s Central Business District. With my business success, I’m able to fund my dream of pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Management.

In 2024, I trained as a Business Guide in order to help more young women start and grow businesses. So far, I have supported six young women in the CAMFED Association — the network of young women leaders, educated with CAMFED’s support — to launch their own businesses.

I’m also taking part in a national business growth program for exporters, which has allowed me to interact with foreign trade development platforms, including the Australian, British, US and UAE embassies. I have big plans for my future, which include further diversifying my business and opening a traditional restaurant.

Mwanaidi, Entrepreneur, Tanzania

I started my hardware business with a loan from CAMFED, and now my business is thriving! I’ve grown my capital sevenfold.

Through CAMFED’s support and my own ambition, I have become a successful entrepreneur in my community. After two years of selling cooking oil at a local market, I diversified by opening a grocery store. I then secured a loan of 1,000,000 TZ shillings (around $377 USD at the time of writing) from CAMFED to launch a hardware store, which is now thriving. I employ someone to manage the store, and my capital has grown sevenfold. In September 2024, I was excited to welcome CAMFED’s CEO, Angeline Murimirwa, to my store during her visit to Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

I encourage my fellow young women in the CAMFED Association in entrepreneurship by teaching them how to sell cooking oil, and guiding them to build their own successful businesses. Through CAMFED’s support, I’m not only transforming my own life, but I’m also developing my community and paving the way for future generations.

Zaria Masoud, Entrepreneur, Tanzania

My cake business has greatly improved my family’s life. Dreams can come true with hard work and community support.

I’m a successful baker and a proud member of the CAMFED Association — the network of women leaders educated with CAMFED’s support. My entrepreneurship journey began with a love for baking, but a lack of business skills to turn my passion into a profitable enterprise. Everything changed when I had an opportunity, through CAMFED, to attend baking and cake decorating training at the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) in Morogoro. The training wasn’t easy, but I stayed focused and resilient, working towards my goal of starting my own bakery business, specializing in celebration cakes. I began baking cakes at home and quickly attracted customers.

To take my business to the next level, I used a loan of 400,000 TZ shillings (around $151 USD at the time of writing) from CAMFED, to buy a stove, pots, and rent a shop premises.

I have many customers requesting a variety of cakes–especially during holidays and graduations! Since starting my business in 2022, I’ve been able to educate my child and support my family. My success has shown me that with hard work and community support, dreams really can come true.

Eutavia, Climate-smart Agriculture Guide, Zimbabwe

Sharing my climate-smart knowledge with local farmers is leading to transformation in my community.

Education has opened up many opportunities for me to lead, including volunteering as a climate-smart Agriculture Guide and being elected as Chairperson for the CAMFED Association in my district. I’ve gained confidence, and learned how to be an effective communicator, leader, and role model.

As an Agriculture Guide, I teach local farmers how to grow successful crops and raise livestock which is improving food security in my community. I am pleased with the success of a local school garden I help to manage, which is being used to support a school meals program. This means more students–especially vulnerable girls–can focus in class and learn effectively.

Looking back on my life, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I have pursued an Honors degree in Development Studies, earned a BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma, grown my own business, and am employing three people from my community. I aim to develop further as an entrepreneur and continue supporting girls and young women to flourish.