CAMFED Canada

CAMFED catalyzes the power of the most vulnerable girls and young women to create the future they imagine — for themselves, for their communities, and for Africa.

We get girls into school, help them to learn, support them to succeed, and unlock their power to lead.

CAMFED serves girls and young women in the most disadvantaged communities in rural Africa, tackling the pressing and interlinked challenges of poverty and gender that limit their education and opportunity.

We see girls’ education as the foundation for social justice, women’s leadership, economic development, and climate action.

Poverty is the greatest barrier to education that girls face.

With many households surviving on less than $2.15 per day, a lack of funds for both direct and indirect school-going costs creates the constant threat of girls’ expulsion, or prevents their access entirely. Other poverty-related issues — such as hunger, lack of resources to buy menstrual items, school uniforms and school supplies — can also make it difficult for girls to attend school regularly, learn while they are there, and study effectively at home. Poverty is also a key driver of practices like early marriage – both a cause and effect of girls’ exclusion from school – with girls facing pressure to get married to bring in more resources to their families, either through the ‘bride price’ or through simply reducing the number of mouths to feed.

We partner with schools and communities to tackle girls’ exclusion.

CAMFED partners with thousands of schools, communities and education authorities across rural (and some peri-urban) districts in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to tackle the multiple barriers to marginalized girls’ school access, retention, progression, completion, and transition.

Our impact increases exponentially through the Association of young women leaders educated with CAMFED support.

Together, we multiply the number of girls in school, and accelerate their transition to livelihoods and leadership.