Making a difference

Matildah Mwamba always knew she wanted to make a difference. Growing up in Zambia’s copper mining belt, she used to pretend to be a teacher – giving lessons to her five younger brothers and sisters and other children during the holidays. Matildah took her passion into the classrooms of rural Zambia, working as a primary teacher for 17 years. But over the years, she became despondent about the lack of educational opportunities for girls. She decided it was time to help all those girls who had never had the chance to be educated because their families were too poor to send them to school.

“My proudest achievement is to be part of a team that is really driving to give hope to people who have no hope. We are leading change and making a difference in people’s lives.” Matildah Mwamba, Camfed Zambia Programme ManagerMatildah went to work for Zambia’s Ministry of Education, where she coordinated the Ministry’s Programme for the Advancement of Girls’ Education. In 2003, she joined Camfed Zambia as Programme Manager, using her expertise to help girls to get the educational opportunities they deserve.

“Camfed was addressing the critical needs of girls at school level,” says Matildah. “That’s what motivated me to join the team. My proudest achievement is to be part of a team that is really driving to give hope to people who have no hope. We are leading change and making a difference in people’s lives.”

In 2005 alone, under Matildah’s leadership, Camfed Zambia benefited 21,300 children through the education programme, the Safety Net Fund and community outreach initiatives.

Earlier this year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Education, cementing a close working relationship that will enable Camfed to extend further support to Zambia’s schools at the local level and to make sure that educational access for girls is given top priority at the national level.

“Our primary objective is to get as many children as possible into school so they can complete secondary education, and to get people to understand the importance of educating girls,” says Matildah.

“Once you are educated, you are free to make your own decisions. You can decide on your own job and you can choose what you want in life without being dependent on someone else. An education helps you to know your rights. A girl with an education is free to choose the man she wants to marry. Education helps you to look after your family and it gives you a social status.”