Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) USA Foundation

Overview

The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) is an international organization working to solve long-term health, economic and social issues in Africa by investing in girls’ education and young women’s empowerment. CAMFED began in 1993 by supporting 32 girls in rural Zimbabwe. In 2005, almost 250,000 children benefited from CAMFED’s program of educational support in some of the poorest regions of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania.

Mission

In Africa, where girls have least access to education and are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, CAMFED's mission is to multiply girls' access to education and accelerate the benefits to individuals, their families and communities.

Program

CAMFED believes that girls’ education is the quickest route to alleviating poverty in Africa. CAMFED’s programs set in motion a virtuous cycle, with girls supported through childhood education and into young adulthood to become leaders who break the cycle of poverty in their own lives and in the lives of the next generation. CAMFED’s education program helps girls from poor families to complete primary and secondary school in rural communities of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania. Upon graduation from secondary school, CAMFED continues its commitment to the young women’s learning by providing health, finance and leadership training. In health, CAMFED’s Community Health Program trains young educated women as health activists in rural areas, where health services and information are rare or non-existent. In finance, CAMFED provides grants and business training, enabling young women to start their own rural enterprises, create employment and provide vital goods and services to their rural communities. And working in partnership with a 4,700-strong network of young educated women, the majority of which are CAMFED alumni, CAMFED successfully supports young women to become leaders and role models working to affect positive long-term change for the next generation of children in Africa.

Impact

CAMFED makes a lasting impact in the communities it serves and has a proven track record of success.
In 2005: 246,525 children benefited from CAMFED’s education program; 13,368 community activists worked with CAMFED to solve poverty-related problems that prevent girls from attending school; 5,366 young women received business training, and 885 women established their own businesses; 216 young women were trained as health activists, reaching 71,200 young people with vital health information, including on HIV/AIDS; 16,226 children were supported through school by the philanthropic initiatives of CAMFED alumni, working in partnership with community groups.

Countries of Operation

Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania, United Republic of, United States, United Kingdom