When I first worked in Zimbabwe, I was a complete novice. I was doing a study, and I continued to learn more and more through the years. And where I have learned most is in the village, from the communities. Ann Cotton More Quotes by Ann Cotton More Quotes From Ann Cotton The organization I founded in 1993, Camfed (the Campaign for Female Education), was in large part inspired by the generosity shown to me by a community in a village in Zimbabwe. During my visit to Mola to research girls' exclusion from education, the people of Mola fed me, shaded me, walked and talked with me for hours each day. Ann Cotton day me education people Be greedy for social change, and your life will be endlessly enriched. The only failure lies in not trying, or giving up. Ann Cotton failure change giving life Have faith in your intuition and listen to your gut feeling. Ann Cotton listen your feeling faith The aim of militants such as Boko Haram, whose very name means 'Western education is a sin,' is to sow hatred and enmity between Muslim and Christian communities, which have co-existed largely peacefully for generations. Education, in particular the education of women, is a threat to Boko Haram's goals. Ann Cotton goals name women education All children everywhere deserve the opportunity that is unlocked for them by education. Ann Cotton them education opportunity children For more than 20 years, Camfed has supported a generation of African girls and women with access to secondary and higher education, employment opportunities, and, ultimately, into positions of leadership. Ann Cotton generation women leadership education Never take your eye off the ball. Always remember that you and everyone on the team is the servant of the cause - in our case, girls' education and young women's leadership in Africa. Ann Cotton you women leadership education Girls' education is a human right. And along with its fundamental justice, it promises so much for the individual, for her family, for society, for all of us. Ann Cotton family society education justice You can't raise the aspirations of a child and then leave them hanging. Poverty can't be solved by a project. It's solved by a relationship, collaboration. Ann Cotton child you poverty relationship I hear, 'But why do poor people make such bad decisions?' But actually, their decision-making can be far more complex than that of the better-off in many ways. They're not financially illiterate: they're constantly weighing up choices based on the reality of poverty. Somehow the international development community has resisted accepting this. Ann Cotton poverty community reality people Poverty diminishes confidence. So if someone offers you a grain store, even if you really need a plough, you take what is offered to you. Ann Cotton someone you confidence poverty All countries have poor people. Yet it's a very rare country which understands the indignities of poverty, while education systems maintain the status quo. The children of the elite go to the best schools and get the best jobs, not because they are the best. We're not taking advantage of the intellectual power on this planet. Ann Cotton best power education children I have seen the transformative effect that education has in the lives of young women and their communities. Ann Cotton seen women young education Key to success for the education of young African girls is building a model that works with communities, schools, and national Ministries of Education to build a system of protection and support around girls, ensuring that they receive the education that is their right. Financial support is provided alongside a social support system. Ann Cotton building support education success Money is hardly neutral. Its connection to power makes it a highly charged social phenomenon and a mediator of relationships. Because it has historically been controlled by men, it has given men a tool for controlling women. Ann Cotton women money power men Women's vulnerability around money is hardly exclusive to Africa. Throughout the world, women struggle with financial power. In the West, women's financial literacy is notably lower than men's. That lack of knowledge means that many women slide into poverty when they become widows. Ann Cotton women money men knowledge For the poor, learning to manage money well is central to improving their lives. Ann Cotton well learning poor money At base, financial literacy is inextricably connected to control over one's future. Ann Cotton control over future financial The culture of philanthropy is alive and very well in Africa. International aid strengthens and extends it, but in the communities where I have spent time, it is all-pervasive. Ann Cotton africa alive time culture Camfed graduates are active in their villages using their skills and resources to improve as many lives as possible. They are teaching financial literacy to marginalized women and bringing vital health care information to rural schoolchildren. Through example, they are demonstrating the power of philanthropy. Ann Cotton women care health power
