In rural Zimbabwe, where many girls face barriers to education, Yvonne’s journey reflects the transformative power of education, mentorship and community support. Today, she is a Learner Guide, entrepreneur and role model, helping young women navigate the same challenges she once faced herself.
Growing up in a family facing financial hardship, Yvonne feared that not being able to afford school fees would interrupt her education. Through support from CAMFED, an organisation that supports girls’ education across rural Africa, she was able to complete her schooling and access opportunities she once thought were beyond her reach. Inspired by the support and guidance she once received, Yvonne later became a Learner Guide, returning to her community as a mentor and “big sister” to the next generation of young women.
When Yvonne walks into a classroom today, she does so not only as a mentor, but as someone who understands exactly what many of the students sitting before her are going through.
For many students, a Learner Guide is not merely a mentor, but a role model, advocate and confidant, helping young women navigate challenges both inside and outside of the classroom.
“I am also mentored by a Learner Guide, Yvonne, who like me, was once supported in school by the CAMFED Association – the network of women leaders educated with CAMFED support. She is like a “big sister” and role model, guiding us through My Better World life skills and wellbeing sessions.”
Marceline, Secondary School Student and Aspiring Veterinary Doctor, Zimbabwe
Learner Guides are young women from the CAMFED Association who volunteer as peer mentors within local schools. By providing guidance and mentorship through CAMFED’s My Better World programme, they help young women develop confidence, resilience, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
For Yvonne, becoming a Learner Guide was an opportunity to provide girls with the support and guidance that she once needed for herself.
However, Yvonne’s journey was not straightforward.
As the eldest of three children from a farming family, Yvonne grew up with a strong determination to create a better future for her family. However, financial pressures made it difficult for her parents to cover the costs of her tuition.
Unfortunately, my parents really struggled to pay my tuition fees due to huge medical bills for my brother, and being sent home became the norm in my life.
When CAMFED began operating in her district, Yvonne applied for the bursary scholarship, hoping it would help her remain in school and complete her secondary education. Once selected, she received financial support for her examination fees, stationery, school uniforms and menstrual products giving her the confidence and stability she needed to focus on her education.
Upon entering the CAMFED Association, the support Yvonne received extended beyond financial assistance. Through the CAMFED Association, she connected with a network of women leaders and mentors who guided her in pursuing higher education.
Inspired by the women before her, Yvonne studied hard to achieve high marks and secured a place at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana to study Social Work.
“This was a girl from a remote village in Rushinga district, who never thought she was going to complete her ordinary education, now finding herself at university. I remember I would pinch myself to check I wasn’t dreaming.”
The opportunity to pursue higher education and study abroad provided Yvonne with exposure to different cultures and people; it helped her develop the leadership skills that she would later utilise as a Learner Guide.
Studying at university opened opportunities Yvonne could never have imagined. However, she thought back to her time during CAMFED, and the hardships that made her educational path difficult. Inspired by the guidance and support she had received on her journey, Yvonne was determined to help other girls who also faced educational barriers.
After completing her education and returning to Zimbabwe, Yvonne continued to build her poultry farming business while looking for ways to give back to her community and help young women navigate the same challenges she had once faced.
“I extend my support to numerous girls, averaging around 10 per year, providing them with essential items like stationery, uniforms, shoes, and food…It’s life-changing knowing that I have had a hand in adding to someone’s success.”
When a young learner from Yvonne’s school district stopped showing up to school for two weeks, she knew something was wrong.
As a CAMFED Learner Guide, she took the opportunity to meet with the girl to understand the circumstances that led to this decision. After learning that the young woman was pregnant, she worked together with local support networks in her area to ensure that she had the support she needed. With continued guidance, she returned to school and later successfully completed her education.
This was a girl from a remote village in Rushinga district, who never thought she was going to complete her ordinary education, now finding herself at university. I remember I would pinch myself to check I wasn’t dreaming.
As a CAMFED Learner Guide, she took the opportunity to meet with the girl to understand the circumstances that led to this decision. After learning that the young woman was pregnant, she worked together with local support networks in her area to ensure that she had the support she needed. With continued guidance, she returned to school and later successfully completed her education.
“As CAMFED graduates we have that intimate understanding of the background of CAMFED clients. Just as I found CAMFED Association big sisters as relatable role models, I believe when learners and recent graduates see more of us showing them that they can also change their families’ life status, it encourages them so much”
Today, Yvonne has become the "big sister" she once needed. The girl who was regularly sent home because her family could not afford school fees now helps others stay in school, pursue their ambitions and believe in possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances.
Her story demonstrates how support for one girl can extend far beyond a single student. By returning as a mentor, Yvonne is helping create opportunities for the next generation of girls in rural Zimbabwe, ensuring that the encouragement she once received continues to change lives long after her own school days ended. As more young women gain access to education, mentorship and supportive networks, greater equality of opportunity and social mobility can take root, allowing aspirations that once seemed out of reach to become a reality.
Caroline Ross is an emerging global development professional with a passion for philanthropy, global health and social impact. She is currently an intern with the Julius Baer Foundation.
Prior to joining Julius Baer, she worked with non-profit organisations, including Full Court Peace, and contributed to a global health initiative focused on Malawi with the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She also volunteers with Crisis Text Line.
Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Hamilton College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology of Development at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
