How we operate

We believe that effectively supporting an individual means investing in the structures that surround her.

CAMFED treats everyone we work with as an individual. But we do not support anyone in isolation. We work in partnership with rural communities – partnerships founded on trust and deep respect for the expertise and commitment of community members.

We know that successfully supporting a girl means investing in all aspects of her life, providing both financial and social support, and working to change the context of her exclusion.

CAMFED not only pays school fees, but provides other essentials, such as uniforms, books, and sanitary protection, safe boarding facilities, or bicycles for girls to get to school more quickly and safely. We train teachers in child protection, and young women as peer mentors and role models to vulnerable girls.  And we invest beyond the classroom, supporting young graduates in the CAMFED Association with additional training and resources, so they can, in turn, lead change for the next generation. Together we:

• train government teachers as Teacher Mentors who are present in every one of our partner schools to look after the psycho-social wellbeing of vulnerable children.
• establish and nurture Parent Support Groups, which volunteer their time and resources to keep children in school, by providing nutritious school meals or improving school facilities, for example.
• improve learning environments by providing equipment or funding new infrastructure, such as low-cost boarding accommodation for girls living far from school.
• support girls to grow in confidence and thrive in the classroom, through the support of trained CAMFED Learner Guides, peer mentors and role models.

Together we radically improve girls’ prospects of becoming independent, influential women.