On August 3-5, President Obama will host a “Forum with Young African Leaders” with approximately 120 young Africans selected by US embassy staff members at posts around the continent.
Chosen to represent Zambia, Abigail Kaindu is an alumnus of Camfed’s scholarship program and a champion of social and economic change in her nation.
“I’m honored to be selected to go to Washington,” Abigail says. “I hope to learn from the different people I meet, and I hope to inspire people in Zambia.”
Abigail grew up in the rural district of Samfya and was orphaned at an early age. She lived with her grandmother, a subsistence farmer, who encouraged her to study hard, but it was difficult for the family to pay her school fees. Fortunately, Abigail was recommended by her school to receive scholarship support from Camfed, and she excelled in her education. She graduated from high school and is now studying at the Zambia Insurance Business College.
“Education is a very powerful investment,” she says. “With an education, I can do whatever I want to do. No one can steal the knowledge I have gained away from me.”
Abigail now works tirelessly to help other young women receive an education like she did. She is a leading member of Cama, Camfed’s pan-African network of young women, and dedicates her spare time to helping disadvantaged women learn financial skills like saving and budgeting and to promoting the benefits of girls’ education in rural communities.
She also mentors young entrepreneurs through her role as a 10,000 Women Leadership and Enterprise Trainer, an initiative designed in partnership with Camfed, Goldman Sachs and the University of Cambridge.
A founding member, camerawoman and co-director for the Samfya Women Filmmakers, Abigail works with 22 other rural women to create films that advocate for social change. They have just completed a short film entitled The Hidden Truth, which tackles the issue of domestic violence.
At the Forum, Abigail hopes to share her story and accomplishments and to present the obstacles girls in rural Zambia face to get an education. She also hopes to meet President Obama. “Just shaking his hand would be wonderful!” she says. “I want to put my country and the work of Camfed on the map.”
Am also like Abigael but unfortunately i haven’t being lucky like her.Keep up with your good work.
Good work and may God bless the hands of your work you touch peoples heart and you make God happy with that thank you.
shem from Kenya hope to come see you and share together
This is brilliant. I am going to Malawi on Monday. Bless you Camfed for all you are doing
This is brilliant. I am going to Malawi on Monday. Bless you Camfed for all you are doing