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Developing enterprise skills in Zambia
In 2008, University of Cambridge International Examinations was asked to design a leadership and enterprise programme for young women in rural Zambia.
The programme is a joint initiative between Camfed International (a leading charity dedicated to female education in Africa), the University of Cambridge, and Goldman Sachs. Its objective is to give young African women the confidence and capacity to transform their lives and those of their families, communities and nations.
In rural Zambia, girls have fewer educational opportunities and they are more likely to shoulder household responsibilities. Camfed wanted an education programme that would develop practical business skills and give women the ability to apply these skills to generate independent income.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to widening access to education. We developed the syllabus and materials for the course.
The programme is delivered in English by Zambian trainers, and includes interactive training sessions led by business mentors and entrepreneurs. It combines desk study with field-based assessment. Upon completion, the young women receive a Cambridge Certificate in Leadership and Enterprise.
More than 150 women aged 18-20 years participated in the first programme, which was launched in the remote region of Samfya in Zambia in December 2008. The results show that the course has truly unlocked the potential of the students, with many starting up their own enterprises − including a retail business, restaurant, and goat − rearing company − and others preparing to further their studies.
Cambridge Qualification Manager, Ursula Underhill, went to Samfya to attend the first graduation ceremony. She said: ‘All the girls who completed the programme are smart, energetic and resourceful. They all have in common the desire to better their lives and the lives of those in their communities.
‘To see them develop from shy young women when they first arrived, to the dynamic go-getting individuals they are today is awe-inspiring. We are so proud to be part of this fantastic programme.’
Head of Enterprise and Leadership at Camfed, Catherine Boyce, said: ‘The diversity of the enterprises reveals how student−led these initiatives are. The passion and commitment that lies behind them is impressive.’
The programme will run again in December 2009. Recent graduates will teach and train a new group of young Zambian women, sharing their skills and successes to motivate the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in Zambia.
© University of Cambridge International Examinations 2012. All rights reserved.