Camfed on the global stage

Camfed brought the plight of young women in rural Africa before some of the most powerful women in the world this summer as two global initiatives were launched to tackle the crucial issue of girls’ education.

Council of Women World LeadersWashington, DC

Camfed’s Director of International Research Khadijah Fancy was invited to address prominent female leaders – including former Irish President Mary Robinson – at the launch of the Council of Women World Leaders Girls’ Education Initiative in Washington, DC this June.

“There definitely seems to be a momentum behind girls’ education on a global stage,” said Khadijah Fancy, who talked to the assembled world leaders about how education is so vital to empower the next generation of women leaders in Africa.

The Millennium Development Goals set by the world’s most powerful countries to achieve “gender equality” and “universal primary education” by 2015 puts Camfed’s programme of educational support for girls right at the top of the world’s political agenda.

Khadijah told the conference about Camfed’s work with the Cama network of educated young women, who are becoming role models and agents of change: “Today, we are seeing the beginnings of real change through Cama… Young women are looked at as leaders by men and women in their communities. Young educated women’s lives are beacons for younger girls – giving them the inspiration to stay in school and look to emulate a very different kind of role model.”

Dead Sea, Jordan

Women’s Learning PartnershipThe Chair of Camfed International’s Board Fiona Eberts and Camfed’s Deputy Executive Director and Director of Programmes Lucy Lake were also invited to attend the Global Women’s Action Network for Children, which was launched in Jordan in June.

Hosted by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, this high-powered alliance of women from different backgrounds and sectors – from Nobel laureates to heads of state – came together to build a powerful global voice for women and children that hopes to make a lasting impact on national and international policy arenas.

Camfed’s Lucy Lake addressed a session of the conference on Building Political Will and Leadership Capacity for Girls’ Education.

“This is a powerful opportunity for young women from grassroots level to make their voices heard and to demonstrate just how important it is to educate girls to become future leaders,” said Lucy.

As co-chair of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), Camfed continues to raise the problem of girls’ exclusion from education at the highest political levels.