International Women's Day 2025: When women take action, communities thrive

In the week of March 1st – 5th, 2025, 10 CAMFED Association entrepreneurs from Kilolo, Kisarawe, Kinondoni, Tabora, Mwanza, Mvomero, Morogoro, Handeni and Iringa districts brought their products and expertise to the exhibition hosted in honor of International Women’s Day, meeting with the Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Exaud Kigahe. The week was coordinated by the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) and allowed CAMFED graduates to gain insights into strategies that contribute to successful business ventures.

This new blog explores the impact of peer educators to ensure girls remain and thrive in school, as part of a collaboration between the Global Partnership for Education, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and CAMFED. Discover the vital role that young women like Tanyaradzwa and Confidence are playing in their school communities, paving the way to success for themselves and others.

On March 4th, 2025, CAMFED champions pilot Maleha Khan and Lydia Leyland, founder of We Got You Boo, joined CAMFED Association leaders Fiona Mavhinga and Forget Shareka on an inspirational International Women’s Day panel, which followed a screening of our film Tunainuana, hosted by our partners KISS in Cambridge, UK. Speaking in front of a highly engaged audience of friends and supporters on the theme of sisterhood action for women and girls, the panel covered everything from girls’ education, climate-smart food systems and women in STEM to combatting loneliness, making the most of ed tech, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

On March 6th, 2025, Clara-Valentine Tigenoah, Head of Programs at CAMFED Ghana, was among the keynote speakers at an International Women’s Day celebration hosted by the British Council. In her remarks to the guests, including school students, she shared her own journey starting from a marginalized, rural background and highlighted the innate power in us all, which is unlocked by education.

On March 7th, 2025, CAMFED Association entrepreneurs staged a colorful display at an International Women’s Day expo, presenting their ideas to the Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Hon. Harima Daudi. Faith, Chisomo, Malumbo, and Beatrice (pictured above) showcased products ranging from peanut butter to cosmetics, demonstrating their business leadership following education, training and peer mentorship.

CAMFED Zambia joined International Women’s Day national celebrations held in Kasama, for the first time, under the theme: “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment.” His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, officiated the event, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for every Zambian woman and girl.

In the article 9 powerful quotes about the importance of gender equality in education, GPE hears from students, community members and practitioners, including our CEO, Angie Murimirwa, who says,  “A girl excluded from education becomes a woman excluded from a secure livelihood and decision-making. Gender equality in education secures every child’s right to learn, thrive and lead. We’re showing that when we co-create solutions with young women who have navigated the very challenges we work to address, partnering with communities and governments, we can transform education systems to better serve all children.”

Forget Shareka, a CAMFED Association member from Zimbabwe, joined an inspiring conversation at Illumina’s European headquarters in Cambridge, where colleagues from across the UK and Europe came together to celebrate International Women’s Day. CAMFED is EMPOWER’s chosen charity for 2025, and this uplifting event kickstarted our partnership and work together to drive transformation for girls across Africa.

On March 6th, 2025, more than 100 women changemakers attended a networking event in Oxford, UK, to celebrate women’s leadership whilst raising funds for CAMFED. Fiona Mavhinga, CAMFED Association Executive Advisor, joined a panel of women from diverse sectors discussing this year’s IWD theme of Accelerating Action. Our hosts, Gardner Leader, have partnered with us to move the needle on women’s leadership, showing what happens when we support a global sisterhood.

CAMFED was among more than 40 exhibitors at the International Women’s Day showcase held in Mutare on March 7th, 2025. CAMFED staff shared how they’re supporting girls and young women to learn, thrive, and become powerful leaders of change. The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, shared her appreciation for the work being done by all partners to ensure women are respected and valued.

CAMFED Association members in Zambia participated in the Youth Entrepreneurs Fair, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Art. The event was attended by several ministers, including the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He was impressed by the work of our fifteen young women graduates and their amazing products including baskets, dresses, bags, shoes, and mosaic paintings. Ten of the young entrepreneurs who pitched their ideas will receive grants and mentorship from successful business leaders.

On March 13th, 2025, a passionate group of young changemakers held a formal dinner to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise funds for CAMFED. Linia Zambezi, Sreyotama Dasgupta, Soliyana Henock, and Yusan Ghebremeskel of the Student Action for Female Education (SAFE) – a student-led project founded through the Cambridge University United Nations Association (CUUNA) – welcomed CAMFED’s Becs Brocken to speak to guests about the impact of their support.