by Vicky Anning, Writer-in-Residence

A team of 16 runners braved wind and rain to take part in the British 10K London Run on Sunday, July 6 for Camfed. So far the intrepid team has raised more than £11,000 for girls in Africa, which is enough to buy 1,466 pairs of school shoes.

A pair of sturdy school shoes costs just £7.50, but this is beyond the reach of many families in the rural areas of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania where Camfed works. This can effectively deny girls the chance of an education – because shoes are a requirement for children to go to school. (more…)

When Simon Edwards, a corporate finance director for Evolution Securities in London, decided to climb Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, his friends and associates were impressed with his ambition. Simon decided to capitalize on that—in an entirely virtuous way—by asking them to support his efforts by donating money to Camfed.

Simon’s interest in Camfed’s work stems from a personal connection to Tanzania, one of the countries where Camfed works. After university, he spent three months there working on an environmental project. He returned recently on business, 15 years later. “We drove through the countryside, and it struck me how little Tanzania has developed in the 15 years since I was there,” he says. “Tanzania has a place in my heart, so I wanted to do something to help.”

Education, he thought, would be the best way to create lasting change. “I believe that charity ought to create a virtuous cycle,” he says. “I like the idea that education feeds off itself. Countries with an educated population develop the capacity to help themselves.”

On January 21, Simon achieved what he had set out to accomplish: he reached the 22,840-foot summit of Mt. Aconcagua, one of three climbers in his original group of eight. “It was such a relief,” he says. “I broke down in tears at the top. I was ill two days before and didn’t think I was going to make it.”

Through his employer, Evolution Securities, as well as through an email he sent to 2,500 contacts soliciting donations for Camfed, Simon was able to raise £12,000—enough to fund an entire secondary school education for 40 girls. He was pleased by the response he received, but he’s still not entirely satisfied. “Now that I’ve made it back alive,” he says, “I plan to chase down a few more people.”

If you are inspired by Simon’s story, please give the gift of education to a child in Africa. Make a secure online donation today.

For more ideas on how to fundraise for Camfed, visit our get involved section.

Help put girls in rural Africa on the path to success by pulling on your running shoes for Camfed in the British 10K London Run on July 6th. The British 10K is a fantastic opportunity to join tens of thousands of recreational runners as they race through the heart of London, passing many famous landmarks along the way including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The race has sold out for the past three years, but Camfed has 30 coveted places left for this year’s event. By registering to run for Camfed, you will be raising money to buy school shoes for girls in some of the poorest parts of rural Africa, ensuring that they are able to attend school.

To register for a place, email Johanna Lund at jlund@camfed.org.

For more information and visit Camfed’s official race page.

For the third consecutive year, interior designer Nancy Robinson will be pulling on her running shoes to raise money for desperately needed school shoes for girls in sub-Saharan Africa.

Last year Nancy raised more than £4,000 for Camfed by taking part in the British 10k London Run. Her efforts alone provided more than 520 girls with shoes so that they are able to go to school.

The cost of a pair of shoes is beyond the reach of many families in the rural areas where Camfed works. Girls often have to walk long distances to their nearest school, so when a girl’s family cannot afford them, it effectively denies her the chance of an education. (more…)

Intrepid cyclists Eric Shambion and Amaya Williams have just arrived on the southern-most tip of South Africa after pedalling 30,000 kilometres from Cairo to Cape Town to raise money for Camfed. “It’s been physically draining,” says Amaya, who has cycled through 29 countries in the past 17 months. “I have had malaria twice and Eric broke his collarbone. Many times we wanted to give up and throw in the towel. But so many people were supporting us and watching our progress – and that’s what kept us going.” (more…)

We interviewed lastminute.com co-founder, internet pioneer and Camfed board member, Martha Lane Fox to find out why she chose to get involved with Camfed.

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