CAMFED Zambia was launched in 2001 to tackle girls' exclusion from education.
CAMFED has been operating in Zambia since 2001, when we were invited to support the Ministry of Education to improve access to and completion of education for rural girls.
Despite having obtained a lower middle income status, Zambia continues to face high levels of poverty and inequality. Girls experience high rates of exclusion from education, particularly in the rural areas of the Western, Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces where CAMFED operates. These provinces fare much worse than others in government assessments of income levels, education and health, although educational outcomes across the country continue to be poor.
By 2023, we had expanded our Zambia operations from 3 districts to 50, across four provinces, including two new districts in Central Province. Today, CAMFED Zambia works with government schools, communities, and local stakeholders, to improve learning outcomes and widen educational access for girls and marginalized children.
Girls in rural and remote Zambia continue to face substantial material and psycho-social barriers to education, including lack of school requisites, long distances to school, early marriages and unintended pregnancies. The support from CAMFED has enabled the most marginalized girls — who had lost hope of staying in school and receiving education — to learn and aspire for greatness without worrying about school-going costs and other pressures. Our programs respond to the challenges these girls face and open up many bright possibilities for the future. CAMFED responds with urgency to the educational needs of these girls because it is the difference between staying in school and being pushed out.
Namenda Malupande, National Director, CAMFED Zambia
“Ubuntu means thriving together; ubuntu means togetherness; ubuntu means humanity for others. This is exactly what CAMFED’s sisterhood is all about. We meet together, and then we go out in the community; we plow back; we do philanthropy work; we make sure that our community is happy and is in a good and healthy environment.
When we catalyze the power of the most vulnerable girls through education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change, both within their communities and globally.”
Harriet Lukanda, CAMFED Association Chairperson, Zambia
Discover my storyPoverty, early marriage and pregnancy, are intrinsically linked and are the main challenges Zambian girls face in staying in school, particularly in rural areas where over half the population live.
In Zambia, 58% of people live below the international monetary poverty line of $1.90 per day.
Only 27% of girls in Zambia complete upper secondary school, and among the poorest children this falls to 3%.
In Zambia, 29% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 5% before the age of 15.
Melody’s family faced acute poverty and she was at risk of dropping out of school to become a child bride. CAMFED stepped in with bursary support and school-going essentials like books and sanitary pads, ensuring Melody has all the support she needs to stay in school and thrive.
*Not her real name. This pseudonym was chosen at the time of filming as Melody was underage.
supported 582,289 students to go to primary and secondary school using donor funds
Of these, 453,964 students have been supported to go to primary school - CAMFED's Safety Net Fund for partner primary schools provides essential items for children to prevent them from dropping out of school.
and we have supported 128,325 students to go to secondary school - CAMFED provides holistic support, that might include school or exam fees, uniforms, sanitary wear, books, pens, bikes, boarding fees or disability aids.
CAMFED Zambia partners with 1,504 schools - We work in genuine partnership with government schools to help improve the learning environment for all students.
CAMFED supports marginalized children in rural areas of Zambia who are at high risk of early marriage to continue their education at their local secondary schools.
Children and teens are supported by a network of young educated women in the CAMFED Association, who join forces with local government and community authorities to uphold girls’ rights and ensure they have the necessary support to attend school and succeed.
Our programs are also benefiting thousands of children with an improved learning environment, specifically reaching out to girls with disabilities to ensure they are not left behind in their pursuit of their right to education.
Together with CAMFED Association leaders, we catalyze the activism of CAMFED Champions in our partner communities to support more vulnerable children to go to primary and secondary school.
Since 2001, 480,479 students have been supported to go to school by CAMFED Association members and community initiatives.
Of these, 299,850 students have been supported to go to school directly by CAMFED Association members. Often using profits from their businesses, CAMFED Association members support on average 3 more children to go to school - multiplying the impact of their education.
and 180,629 students have been supported to go to primary and secondary school through community initiatives. This includes parents, teachers, education officials and traditional leaders, who rally resources to support even more children to go to school.
Our movement in Zambia has grown to 29,406 CAMFED Association members helping to form the largest network of its kind in Africa. Young women educated with CAMFED support spearhead our programs and help more vulnerable children to go to school.
The Prize forms part of UNESCO's commitment to gender equality and nurturing future female leaders through education.
In part 3 of our blog series, ‘Crafting Change’, hear from Febby, Salifyanji, Elizabeth and Lucy about how their passion for art has led to sustainable careers in sculpture, mosaics, and bead artistry.
I decided to join the Mother Support Group because I wanted to counsel girls and help them progress in education. It feels really good that through our activities, we are helping to ensure vulnerable children can do their best in school.
Hear from agribusiness expert and CAMFED Business Guide Janet in this Q&A interview with Mukamulumbu Mweemba, Program Manager at CAMFED Zambia.
Material and emotional support from CAMFED raised my aspirations and academic achievements. Now, I’m thriving in school and hope to study Medicine in future.
CAMFED and King Philanthropies, together with SOURCE Global, join forces to address the urgent need for safe drinking water at a rural primary school in Chinsali District, Zambia.
Discover the stories of young Zambian women ensuring that all children — including those living with disabilities — can learn and thrive in a changing world.
Abigail, a determined leader from Zambia, overcame poverty and completed her education with CAMFED support. Now, she’s a role model and education activist, working tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for women and girls.
I’m Memory, a soccer (football) referee in Zambia. By reaching for my dreams of becoming a professional soccer referee, I’m inspiring more girls in my community to follow in my footsteps and pursue their passion for sports.
Looking to the future, I hope that girls in my community and across Zambia receive the best possible education and become independent leaders. I would like to see girls becoming aware of decision-making, knowing about their wellbeing, choosing the right career paths and learning to manage finances. As young women they will become entrepreneurs and self thinkers who are aware of their rights and choices.
CAMFED Association member and gender equality activist Lisa Kandanda sets out spending priorities for the Zambian nation.
I’m Naomi, a game changer in the CAMFED Association of women leaders educated with CAMFED support in Zambia. I am respected in my community and beyond for my activism on big issues like girls’ exclusion from education and climate change.
I'm Joyce, a secondary student and aspiring Attorney from Zambia. I want to study law and become an attorney to focus on protecting the rights of defendants. Education my power!
The Navitas Education Trust, which aims to transform lives through education, will be investing in improving access to quality education for disadvantaged girls and increasing employability of young women in rural Zambia.
CAMFED welcomed the launch of the new Education Plus initiative that identifies girls’ education as the foundation for improving health, well-being, future earnings, and more, for individuals, communities and countries. African leaders convened in Lusaka, Zambia in July, 2022, to make a collective commitment to keeping adolescent girls in school.
On October 29th, 2021, CAMFED Zambia gathered with partners, stakeholders, government officials, and our young leaders in the CAMFED Association at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka to celebrate our 20th anniversary at our Annual General Meeting.
Harriet Cheelo, representing the climate-smart Agriculture Guides in the CAMFED Association of women leaders in Zambia, joins CAMFED’s Director of Enterprise Catherine Boyce, and Sky News hosts Anna Jones and Katerina Vitozzi to explore the role of girls’ education and women’s leadership for climate action in this podcast.
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Supported by CAMFED through secondary school, Dyness graduated in 2018, joined the CAMFED Association of women leaders, and seized the opportunity to train as a Learner Guide. In her blog she explains how she uses her experience growing up in rural Zambia to support vulnerable children today.
Sydney Gurewitz Clemens $10.9
Jessy Clement $31.9
Brock Warner $5.6
Alexis Taylor $47.6
David Sipes $500
Peter Miraglia $158
Martha Campbell $5254
Michael Lewis $250
Katie Hawks £10.6
Kimberly Elam $106
Sean Simmons $5.6
Marcia Tugendhat $158
Pamela Tishman $63.4
Mary Parker £26.2
Marjorie Grayson $50
