CAMFED CEO Angeline Murimirwa Named to TIME100’s 2...

CAMFED CEO Angeline Murimirwa Named to TIME100’s 2025 Icons

ZimNow Reporter

Angeline “Angie” Murimirwa, CEO of the global nonprofit Campaign for Female Education, has been recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, earning a spot in the “Icons” category.

The honor underscores her leadership in advancing access to education for millions of girls across Africa and her advocacy for systemic change in marginalized communities.

Murimirwa’s journey began in rural Zimbabwe, where she faced barriers to education as the daughter of subsistence farmers.

A CAMFED scholarship enabled her to complete her schooling—an opportunity she now extends to others.

Under her leadership, CAMFED has grown from supporting 4.8 million children in 2018 to 6.8 million by 2024, with a network of 313,000 alumni members mentoring the next generation of students.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who penned Murimirwa’s TIME100 tribute, praised her tenacity: “Few people are fighting to solve this crisis as effectively as Angeline. Educating girls is the foundation of healthy societies, and her work proves it”.

Murimirwa’s childhood resilience shaped her approach. In the 1980s, when school inspectors in Zimbabwe enforced fee payments by removing indebted students, her teachers devised a plan: they’d discreetly send her to hide in the school’s rudimentary bathroom—a concrete structure serving hundreds—until the coast was clear.

“I’ve come from hiding in the bathroom to being intimidating,” she quipped during a recent interview, framing the anecdote as a testament to community-driven solutions.

Today, CAMFED operates in regions where only 5% of girls finish high school, addressing financial barriers and cultural biases.

Murimirwa emphasizes mentorship through CAMFED’s alumnae network, which provides academic support, parental advocacy, and financial guidance. “It’s not just enrollment; it’s about thriving,” she stated .

To girls facing similar struggles, Murimirwa offers a rallying cry: “If I did it, you can did it better, faster. It’s not wild or crazy to imagine success.” Her mantra reflects CAMFED’s philosophy of fostering self-sustaining cycles of empowerment .

With governments now seeking partnerships to scale CAMFED’s model, Murimirwa remains focused: “This is the time to support more girls—NOW, in capital letters.”