Camfed Lobbies Government in Zambia during Global Action Week 2005

During this year’s Global Action Week for Education, 24th – 30th April, thousands of activists across 110 countries delivered an urgent message to their governments – education is the key to ending poverty – and Camfed was amongst those in Zambia to campaign for increased access to education.

Matildah Mwamba and Exildah Musonda, from Camfed Zambia, took part in the Global Action Week Rally through the streets of Lusaka on April 27th. The theme of the Rally was “Educate to End Poverty” and Matildah and Exildah took the opportunity to tell the many high profile guests, including the Deputy Minister of Education, more about the Camfed programme in Zambia.

Last year, Camfed increased the range and breadth of our activities in Zambia, reaching more vulnerable children, young people and communities in the districts of Samfya, Mpika and Shangombo. Our support included enabling 1,305 girls to go to school by paying for their school uniforms, shoes, fees and stationery. In addition, these girls, many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS, were given guidance and counselling by a network of 71 trained female teachers and 36 members of the newly formed CAMA network, the association of young women Camfed-supported school leavers.

The Camfed Zambia programme is expanding year on year and in 2005 we are helping thousands more families to send their daughters to school.