Our Mission
Camfed fights poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by educating girls and empowering women to become leaders of change. Our goal: To improve the lives of two million
children by 2013.
Our Values
Since 1993, we’ve operated community-based programmes that place the needs of individual girls at the heart of our work. Here are the values that guide us.
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Focus on the Girl
All our programmes begin with an individual girl in rural Africa. By looking at the world from her perspective, we work to dismantle the hurdles in her way to obtaining an education and living a healthy adult life. We’re answerable first and foremost to her.
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Involve the Community
Change can’t happen without community support. We believe people living in rural communities are best placed to solve the problems around them. Community members of all levels help with our program design and implementation.
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Operate Transparent, Accountable Programmes
We place transparency at the core of our operations. Unique social and financial auditing systems are used in a monitoring process that safeguards girls and young women.
Our Approach
Here are a few ways we operate to ensure transparency and efficiency, maximising the benefits of our programs for girls in Africa.
- There are just two transactions between a donation and the benefiting girls, each of which is under our control.
- The surrounding community knows the criteria by which girls are selected for support.
- Parents or guardians know the specifics of their daughter’s Camfed entitlement—from the cost of school fees to the number of pairs of socks she should receive.
- The accounts of all partner schools are audited by us.
- Camfed-trained local mentors at each school give girls protection and emotional support throughout their education.
Our History
In 1991, Ann Cotton visited Zimbabwe to investigate why girls’ school enrollment in rural areas was so low. What she found surprised her. Contrary to the common assumption that families weren’t sending girls to school for cultural reasons, Ann discovered poverty was the main roadblock. Families couldn’t afford to buy books or pay school fees for all their children, so they had to choose who would receive an education. Girls were rarely chosen. The reason was simple: Boys had a better chance of getting a paid job after graduation.
So Ann wondered: Could an economic solution open school doors to girls? Could it lead to economic, social and cultural benefits for rural Africa?
She returned home to Cambridge, England, determined to find a way to help girls go to school in Zimbabwe. She recruited friends and family and sold baked goods to raise money and awareness about the lack of education for girls in Africa. At the end of her grassroots campaign, she supported 32 girls through school.
In 1993, Ann formally launched Camfed, the Campaign for Female Education. The girls supported by Camfed stayed in school and did well, demonstrating that girls’ education was valued by families when costs were met. Our successful model has now been replicated in 2,295 communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania.
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Finances
More than 90 percent of Camfed’s operating budget goes directly to help girls in Africa.
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Awards
Camfed has received high acclaim for its innovative, effective practices.
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Partners
We work with a diverse group of partners to help girls in Africa.
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Our Team
Camfed’s diverse staff is more than 60 percent African, providing local expertise and leadership.
Meet our Team » -
Jobs
Join our team and help improve the lives of girls and women in Africa.
Learn about current openings »
