People often talk about girls’ education in terms of secondary benefits: economic development, better family health. But as CEO of CAMFED — the Campaign for Female Education — Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa knows it’s about much more than that.

Angie was among the first girls supported by CAMFED through secondary education — and was a founding member of the CAMFED Association. With over 279,000 members across sub-Saharan Africa, this network supports girls on their educational journey after graduation, and mentors young women to address big challenges in their societies.

Angie and fellow laureate Lucy Lake have led CAMFED in developing a strong partnership model that drives their work. The team brings data, evidence, and research findings directly from its partner communities, and shares them back with parents and education stakeholders, celebrating their collective achievements for girls. When CAMFED’s leadership meets with policymakers, they use that data to engage communities and reinforce government accountability to every marginalized girl. CAMFED’s approach means solutions are local, cost-effective, and supported from many angles — winning champions among ministries of education at every level.

Globally, the organization also partners with the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education. They’re working together to push for evidence-based reform to achieve gender equality in education.

As well as being a Yidan Prize laureate, Angie has accepted the 2020 Kristof Holiday Impact Prize and the 2021 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on behalf of CAMFED’s movement. Her 2023 TED Talk, delivered as part of the Audacious cohort, focuses on the power of sisterhood and challenges us to see girls’ education through a different lens.