Accelerate Action for women and girls with CAMFED

"International Women’s Day is one of the most important dates in the year for our global movement, and for everyone around the world who is committed to an equitable future," says CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education).

"When women take action, communities thrive," says this international non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1993 whose mission is to eradicate poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women.

Accelerate Action by investing in a girl's future

"When you support CAMFED, you’re supporting young women across rural Africa to complete school and become leaders and change makers, accelerating action for women and girls — in and with their communities," explains the organization as it marks IWD 2025. "Join our global movement for girls' education, powered by Sisterhood Action,"

Did you know that over 90% of every dollar that CAMFED spends goes to their programs?

Accelerating Action so young women become leaders

CAMFED is a pan-African, grassroots-led movement tackling poverty, inequality and injustice through girls’ education and women’s leadership, while revolutionizing how girls’ education is delivered. With a focus on vulnerable girls and young women in rural areas of Africa, where girls face acute disadvantage, CAMFED has created a model that radically improves girls’ prospects of becoming independent, influential women, unlocking their power with transformative impact.

When you support CAMFED, you’re supporting young women across rural Africa to complete school and become leaders and change makers, accelerating action for women and girls - in and with their communities.

"95% of girls from the most disadvantaged communities in rural Africa never complete secondary school, their endless potential wasted. This is a reality that plays out at every stage of a young woman’s life. Without an education, a girl’s endless potential is wasted. The cycle of poverty and injustice remains unbroken," explains CAMFED. 

"Poverty is the greatest barrier, with many households across Africa surviving on less than $1.25 per day. A lack of funds for both direct and indirect school-going costs can prevent a girl’s access to a quality education. Yet we know that girls supported to learn and succeed can become leaders taking action to ensure their communities thrive. Together we can Accelerate Action for women and girls! What action will you take?" 

Accelerate Action for women and girls

When you educate a girl, everything changes. 

CAMFED gets girls into school, helps them to learn, supports them to succeed, and unlocks their power to lead. The group's locally-led approach partners with communities to support the welfare and success of their most vulnerable girls. Resources contributed by CAMFED’s global community are combined with support generated locally - and together, CAMFED ensures that girls have everything they need to attend and thrive in school.

CAMFED graduates can join Africa’s largest and fastest-growing sisterhood of leaders, the CAMFED Association. Each member, on average, supports another three girls to go to school with her own resources, as well as mentoring and encouraging many more. And as a network of activists, CAMFED creates employment and opportunity, tackling inequality and injustice.

“There are a lot of girls in the community who look up to me for inspiration, and for that I always ensure I’m doing my best. As an entrepreneur myself, supporting young women to access business loans is close to my heart because I understand the challenges women entrepreneurs face," explains Mwangala in Zambia.

“I’ve faced many challenges on my education journey, but I am who I am today because of the collective strength of the CAMFED sisterhood. I say to CAMFED’s global community: ‘Let’s draw out strength from our collective passion and purpose. Let’s continue to challenge norms, to push boundaries and inspire change!” says Lisa in Zimbabwe.

Accelerate Action by joining CAMFED's change-making campaign

IWD sees CAMFED provide a free, inspiration-loaded IWD Action Pack containing plenty of infrmation to help you kickstart your own support for CAMFED and its work.

CAMFED suggests eight simple ways to support women and girls everywhere.

1. Support Female Entrepreneurs

Take action with your wallet!

Look out for local businesses led by women or brands that give a portion of their profits to charitable causes that improve the lives of women and girls.

2. Mentor a young woman

Be the person who inspires the next generation.

Could you help raise up the next generation of girls to know that their potential is not limited by their gender?

Maybe a niece or younger colleague at work could benefit from your guidance and support? Maybe you might change her life.

Reach out to someone today.

3. Get creative

Use your skills and passions!

Create art or writing that inspires others.

Start a community group that brings together women in your local area—like an exercise, craft, or book club.

4. Sign CAMFED’s Sisterhood Pledge

Make your voice heard!

Sign petitions or contact policymakers to champion girls’ access to education globally.

Join the CAMFED sisterhood by signing a pledge to up lift women and girls across the globe.

Stand with a powerful, growing group of supporters committed to lifting each other up, and supporting more vulnerable girls to succeed.

Hear from young African women and help CAMFED reach its goal of 1 million signatures.

5. Learn more and educate others

Do your research!

Start meaningful conversations!

Learn about the barriers girls face in accessing education, and educate your friends.

CAMFED’s YouTube channel is a great place to start, or share some of your favorite charity’s reels on Instagram.

6. Host an event

Gather your community to celebrate women’s leadership.

Bring together like-minded people to promote women’s leadership and raise funds for an organization close to your heart.

CAMFED has lots of great materials to help you plan a fun event.

Are you a film fan? You could hold a film screening of a short film, Tunainuana, which tells the story of determination and sisterhood transforming our world.

7. Donate

A donation is a quick way to radically improve girls’ prospects of becoming independent, influential women.

Even a small gift can transform a girl’s future. A gift to CAMFED will multiply the number of girls.

A gift to CAMFED will multiply the number of girls in school, and support them to safely transition to fulfilling livelihoods and leadership.

Could you donate just 1 hour of your earnings?

Use the calculator to easily find out what an hour of your time is worth and how many girls that could reach.

8. Share your actions

Lead by example!

Use your socials to shout about the actions you’ve taken and encourage others to join you.

Don’t forget to tag @CAMFED and use the hashtags #AccelerateAction #IWDgiving #SisterhoodAction.

Accelerate Action and invest in a girl's future

CAMFED envisions a world in which every child is educated, protected, respected and valued, and grows up to turn the tide of poverty.

Your gift helps CAMFED remain agile, so it can continue to be there for the most vulnerable girls and women, especially during a crisis.

Support a vulnerable girl to learn, thrive and lead, so she can create the future she imagines - for herself, for her community, and for Africa.