Miriam
Malawi
Miriam is one of eight children and was the first to complete her secondary education. She lives in Malawi and received much of her education through support from CAMFED.
At one point, Miriam thought she would have to drop out of school. After her first year of high school, she lost the financing for her education. But when CAMFED stepped in to help her, she had new hope. Motivated by the new support, she worked harder than ever to obtain her education.
Miriam joined the CAMFED Association in 2015 after finishing her Malawi School Certificate of Education Examination. She has helped many people by providing school uniforms, pens, fees, and counseling for children in need. She motivates people because they know about her circumstances, and they realize that if she can succeed, then they can too.
After Miriam completed school, she started a small business selling fritters. She wanted to attend a public university. Although she wasn’t admitted, she didn’t stop there. She had put some of her business earnings in the bank to help her in the future. She applied for food assistant position with the Ministry of Agriculture, and she was chosen for an interview. She used some of the money she had saved to travel all the way from Dedza to Lilongwe. After the interview, she was offered the position!
Miriam also joined another school, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and earned her three-year diploma. She is now an Agricultural Extension Development Officer. With the money that she has earned, she was able to pay for electricity in her mother's home. It is the only home with electricity in her neighborhood.
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Miriam wants to be able to help people. She has helped her relatives by buying them school uniforms, and she does what she can when they need assistance. She is currently helping twelve children attend school. Miriam is also able to give other CAMFED members advice so that they, too, can help others in different ways.
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Miriam teaches people (especially farmers) about weeding, sustainable farming, early planting, mulching, drought resistant crops, and tree planting. All of these things help the environment.
Before Miriam went to school, her family used to have to cut down forest trees so they could make charcoal to sell. But now that Miriam has gone to school, she has knowledge, a good job, and steady wages. She and her family can now pay for food and livestock. School has changed Miriam's life for the better and given her many opportunities for the future.
Story courtesy of CAMFED, an organization dedicated to helping women and girls through education and leadership across Africa.