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Camfed's Response

Camfed first started its programmes in Zimbabwe in 1993 and whilst many international agencies have withdrawn their programmes, Camfed has been able to substantially scale up support to vulnerable children in 21 of the poorest rural districts. After 14 years, our Zimbabwe programme showcases the many benefits of long term investment in girls’ education.

Camfed continues to develop its programmes in response to local needs. Working in a context of economic instability and rising inflation, Camfed has significantly increased its support in Zimbabwe, supporting 294, 600 children through our various educational programmes in 2007. Camfed’s Safety Net Fund has acted as an important bulwark against rising costs, and in 2006, 16, 239 children were prevented from dropping out of school.

Camfed has also built hostels close to schools in Zimbabwe for girls who live at a great distance from schools. The long journey to school not only exposes girls to numerous dangers but also negatively affects their academic performance.

Our holistic approach includes improving quality as well as quantity – and on a long-term basis. For example, due to the shortage of female teachers and a male-dominated environment, Camfed is training teacher mentors to provide psycho-social support to girls. In 2006, we trained 1,650 teacher mentors.

Camfed is in dialogue with other agencies and organisations in Zimbabwe to ensure that there is community-wide support of girls’ education. Camfed is working with Padare, a local Zimbabwean organisation, to build a network of men for gender justice. In partnership with Padare we are running sensitisation training sessions in 10 rural districts, raising awareness around gender violence and gender inequality. As a result of the training Community Action Teams are being created who will maintain the momentum on women’s rights –challenging attitudes and practices that act to disempower girls and women.

Our work in Zimbabwe has stimulated high levels of local philanthropy. In 2007 alone, Mother Support Groups and Cama members have helped over 30, 000 children to go to school. These acts of philanthropy continue to grow despite the current context of rural Zimbabwe where poverty and economic instability are putting pressures on communities. Cama members are using the profits from the businesses they started with Camfed’s support and business training to ensure that other children are able to enjoy the same benefits of education that they themselves received.

The young Zimbabwean women who have been supported by Camfed to complete school since 1993 are making a difference at community, national, and international levels. Camfed provided financial support for the academic high-flyers who qualified for the country’s scarce university places. As qualified doctors, lawyers, and teachers, young professional women like Fiona Muchembere are among the first from their rural communities to go to university and gain formal employment. Angeline Mugwendere, current Executive Director of Camfed Zimbabwe, was among the first group of girls to receive support from Camfed in 1993 and was one of the founding members of Cama in 1998. Angeline has been elected onto the Board of the National Youth Council, is represented on the UNAIDS Gender Task Force, and made a keynote presentation at the 2005 Global Exchange Forum hosted by the UK Foreign Policy Centre. In 2006, she was awarded the Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life by the Women’s World Summit Foundation in Switzerland.

Cama members who have stayed in their rural areas have set up successful rural businesses, demonstrating their determination to be financially independent and provide for their families in the prevailing economic climate. With its 5,264 strong membership in Zimbabwe alone, Cama is a vital support network for young rural women as they leave school. Camfed’s Seed Money Programme provides business training and start up grants for school leavers – and the network of successful role models creates local support for young women as they start their businesses. This proven economic empowerment model will be tested in the Zimbabwean school system for wider replication to reach more vulnerable school leavers.

287 CAMA members are also playing an essential role within their communities as Community Health Trainers. With HIV/AIDS having a devastating impact on families and communities, the work of these activists in sharing information on HIV/AIDS and other health matters in community groups and schools is crucial. Additionally, these Community Health Trainers are providing home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS; as the number of child-headed households, and children withdrawn from school to look after sick family members continues to be high, this support is more vital than ever.

Read about Camfed's impact in Zimbabwe in 2007.

 

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