The Trust stands behind young change-makers, working with them to provide the resources and inspiration all young people need to connect, grow their philanthropy, and share their expertise. It will amplify the voices of youth across the Commonwealth, inspiring young activists everywhere to engage, act, and make the world a better place.
“The Queen's Commonwealth Trust is working with CAMA because CAMA members are the experts in addressing the issues their local communities face. CAMA has the networks, the expertise, the training, the energy and the passion needed to bring fundamental change to the lives of hundreds of thousands of girls and vulnerable young women. Our first year together has been terrific. We have learned so much from CAMA too, with ideas to help inform our philanthropy in the future. The future is bright and, as Angeline says, it is full steam ahead.” - Nicola Brentnall, CEO, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust
The launch of the new platform comes just in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week, the biggest ever summit hosted by the UK, which aims to address global challenges and solutions, including a special focus on girls’ education and women’s leadership. It precedes The Queen’s 92nd birthday celebrations, taking place on the 21st of April with a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Broadcast live by the BBC, the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) will be the major beneficiary of the event
The QCT set up The Queen’s CAMA Commonwealth Fund in order to bring more financial resources directly to Camfed’s alumnae, who are working in their communities to identify ‘unseen’ vulnerable children — beyond even the reach of local authorities — and pooling their own resources to return them to school, ensuring continued support for their education by working with schools, parents and local authorities, including traditional leaders.
Initially bolstering the work of CAMA members in Ghana and Tanzania, the Fund is allowing young women to reach 3,490 vulnerable children through coordinated philanthropy, and is starting to bring other funding partners behind CAMA, enabling the expansion of this initiative.
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CAMA members like Hawa in Ghana rally community support around the most vulnerable children, ensuring they go to school, succeed, and help to break the cycle of poverty.
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Angeline and Alexander McLean at a serendipitous meeting at the Skoll World Forum for Social Entrepreneurship in Oxford last week
“With the support of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, we can reach even more children, scaling the work of young women who were once amongst the most marginalized,” says CAMA Development Director Fiona Mavhinga.
Fiona and Angeline were among the first cohort of girls educated by Camfed in Zimbabwe. “It’s also a powerful reminder that those who are best placed to develop and implement solutions are those who have lived the barriers they are now working to dismantle.”
Fiona, who addressed the Obama Foundation Summit attended by Prince Harry last year, and Angeline, who met The Queen alongside the other young leaders whose projects are initially being supported by the charity, expressed their pride at sharing the platform with such inspirational causes.
They include Alexander McLean’s African Prisons Project, Ankit Kawatra’s Feeding India and Joannes Yimbesalu’s Hope for Children Cameroon. “To all those jaded by the news, who feel disempowered and discouraged, we are here with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, stepping up for and with young people all over the world. We are showing what is possible when you trust this new generation to take the reins, using their ideas and determination to make lasting change,” Angeline concludes.