For Christina Sukusula, the dream of attending college was once a distant hope.
Today, it is a vivid reality. When she was admitted to Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, her dream institution, she could hardly contain her excitement.
“I was selected to pursue my desired course — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. Studying medicine has always been my passion and a constant prayer, so this opportunity felt like a dream come true,” she says in an interview.
Christina’s journey to this moment, however, was not without challenges.
Her secondary education at Mwanza Secondary School began with uncertainty, as her parents struggled to support her studies.
“There were times when I wasn’t sure how I would continue,” she reflects.
But everything changed when she received sponsorship from the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed), an organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable girls in their education.
Camfed’s support not only allowed her to focus on her studies but also introduced her to inspirational role models and provided opportunities for university visits.
She says these experiences ignited a fire within her. With this newfound motivation, Christina set clear goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them.
“I worked hard and through that determination, I reached this milestone. It is a testament to my role as a beacon of hope for my family and community,” Christina shares.
She hopes to use her education to make a difference in the lives of those around her and describes this milestone as just the beginning.
As a future healthcare professional, she aims to provide quality healthcare to those she cares about and contribute to the wellbeing of her community.
Mwanza Secondary School head teacher Henry Saka is proud that a girl from a rural community in the border district has made such strides.
“She was the best-performing student in the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations. She is a role model to others,” Saka says.
He is confident that Christina will excel in her studies and support other struggling learners and her family once she becomes self-reliant.
Camfed works in partnership with marginalised communities across sub-Saharan Africa, where several interconnected factors contribute to girls dropping out of or never having the opportunity to progress to secondary education.
Since 2009, the organisation has supported 258,520 students in Malawi to attend primary and secondary school, with funds from partners such as the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (Ciff).
Over the same period, 905,250 students have been supported by Camfed Association members and community initiatives.
Of these, 590,892 students have been supported directly by Camfed Association members.
Often using profits from their businesses, Camfed Association members support, on average, three additional children to attend school, multiplying the impact of their education.
Camfed Chief Executive Officer, Angeline Murimirwa, one of the first girls to receive support from the organisation to attend secondary school, is proud that her organisation’s work has changed the lives of countless girls in Malawi.
“By offering targeted financial aid, mentorship and community-based support, we have ensured that girls who would otherwise drop out due to fees, lack of school places or family challenges are able to continue their education.
“This is not just about getting girls into school — it is about ensuring they succeed, thrive and ultimately lead in their communities,” Murimirwa says.
She adds that her organisation does not solely focus on improving educational outcomes but also partners with communities, schools and the government to complement existing efforts.
“Our approach works because we collaborate with everyone involved: the girls, their families, their teachers and local authorities,” Murimirwa explains.
She further states that girls are selected based on community needs, taking into account factors such as family living conditions, the girl’s living situation and whether she faces additional challenges like living with elderly guardians or not being registered at birth.
“We provide continuous support — through home visits, mentoring, coaching and career guidance — until these girls graduate and transition into livelihoods,” she says.
Looking ahead, Murimirwa reflects on the importance of not just increasing the number of girls educated but also creating a cultural shift.
“When communities see their daughters becoming doctors, teachers or nurses, it changes expectations. It shifts the narrative about what is possible for girls in these communities,” she says.
She adds that behind the statistics, Camfed is creating human capital in every community, empowering them to believe in their potential.
Ciff, one of the partners supporting Camfed in its objective of uplifting marginalised girls like Christina, has investments spanning 29 African countries, including Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique and Burkina Faso.
The independent philanthropic organisation works with a wide range of partners to transform the lives of children and adolescents.
Ciff notes that girls living in sub-Saharan Africa face numerous barriers to schooling, which is why it partners with Camfed.
It further states that Camfed, operating in five African countries including Malawi, uses a unique model where young women supported by the organisation join the Camfed Association, a leadership network that guides the next generation of girls.
Through this network, Camfed leaders protect girls from gender-based violence, support their education, provide sexual and reproductive health education and promote economic equality by offering business training and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Ciff highlights that the success of these young women as students and entrepreneurs shows how education opens doors and helps girls reach their full potential.
“This model helps to shift the power dynamics that allow harmful practices such as child marriage,” it says.
Data shows that over 20 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school.
Ciff believes that reversing this trend will have sustainable ripple effects into the future.
“Educated girls marry later, earn higher incomes and break intergenerational cycles of poverty,” it says.
For Christina, she is deeply grateful to Camfed and hopes the organisation continues its impactful work.
“Educating girls has a transformative impact on Africa, giving them a voice, confidence and the ability to inspire others,” she says.
Murimirwa has a response to this.
“What we have learned as an organisation is that if you support one child, they have the capability to support three or five more as they go.
“And so, you kind of break the vicious cycle of poverty for that girl’s family, but also for the community. And the three, five — some of them are not even their relatives,” she says.
