Angeline Murimirwa

{{short description|Zimbabwean feminist and executive director}} {{Use British English|date=December 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Angeline Murimirwa | image = | image_upright = yes | caption = Murimirwa in 2025 | alt = Black woman with braided hair, wearing spectacles, and holding a microphone. | birth_name = Angeline Mugwendere | birth_date = 1980 | birth_place = Denhere, Zimbabwe | death_date =  | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = Chief Executive Officer for CAMFED in Africa | notable_works = }}

'''Angeline Murimirwa''' ({{nee}} Mugwendere) is a Zimbabwean feminist, who is currently the chief executive officer for CAMFED in Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://camfed.org/about/team/#angeline-murimirwa|title=Our team – CAMFED – Campaign for Female Education|website=camfed.org|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=The story of Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa |url=https://camfed.org/angie-murimirwa-story/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=CAMFED |language=en}}</ref> Murimirwa was included in the [https://time.com/collections/100-most-influential-people-2025/ TIME100 list] of the world's most influential people of 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=TIME100: The most influential people of 2025 |url=https://time.com/collections/100-most-influential-people-2025/ |website=TIME |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref>

==Career== Born in 1980,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Satish |date=2025-04-22 |title=Angeline Murimirwa: Biography, Age, Career, Family, Awards |url=https://leaderbiography.com/angeline-murimirwa/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Leader Biography |language=en}}</ref> Murimirwa grew up in Denhere in rural Zimbabwe. In the 1990s, she was one of the first girls to be given a scholarship by CAMFED for her secondary school education, which included monetary support, her school uniform, shoes and schooling equipment.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.newzimbabwe.com/health/healthandcommunity.aspx?newsid=37333| title=How one advocate uses her own story to build trust in girls' education| publisher=New Zimbabwe| date=23 May 2017| accessdate=23 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101526/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/health/healthandcommunity.aspx?newsid=37333| archive-date=24 December 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=CIN>{{cite web|url=http://www.comminit.com/content/angeline-murimirwa-regional-executive-director-southern-africa-camfed-dfid-girl-summit-2| title= Angeline Murimirwa – Regional Executive Director (Southern Africa), CAMFED – DFID Girl Summit 2014| publisher=The Communication Initiative Network| date=20 August 2015| accessdate=23 December 2017}}</ref><ref name=WP/><ref name=HTS>{{cite web| url=http://www.halftheskymovement.org/blog/entry/education-an-unstoppable-tide.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101650/http://www.halftheskymovement.org/blog/entry/education-an-unstoppable-tide.html| url-status=usurped| archive-date=24 December 2017| title= Education: An Unstoppable Tide| last=Cotton| first=Ann| author-link=Ann Cotton| publisher=Half the Sky Movement| date=20 August 2012| accessdate=24 December 2017}}</ref>

Before her appointment as Executive Director – Africa, Murimirwa worked as the regional executive director for CAMFED in Southern & Eastern Africa.<ref name=WP>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/12/12/a-dynamic-african-woman-lives-up-to-michelle-obamas-call-to-give-girls-around-the-world-the-chance-to-go-to-school/| title= A dynamic African woman lives up to Michelle Obama's call to give girls the chance to go to school|last=Weiner|first=Joanna| work=The Washington Post| date=12 December 2014| accessdate=23 December 2017}}</ref><ref name=CM>{{cite web| url=https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/angeline-murimirwa-accepts-award-from-rihanna-s-clara-lionel9417/?| title=Angeline Murimirwa accepts award from Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation| publisher=Cambridge Network| date=15 September 2017| accessdate=23 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101635/https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/angeline-murimirwa-accepts-award-from-rihanna-s-clara-lionel9417/| archive-date=24 December 2017| url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1998, Murimirwa helped set up the CAMFED Association (CAMA), which began with a few hundred women. By the beginning of 2025, there were 312,747 members.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAMFED’s 2024 Annual Review |url=https://d3oeq7ualzufq.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/05145031/camfed_annual_review_2024.pdf |publisher=CAMFED |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref> In 2005, Murimirwa presented at a Global Exchange forum, and in 2006, she was awarded the prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life by the Women's World Summit Foundation.<ref name=CIN/> Murimirwa was featured in the 2009 book ''Half the Sky'' by Pulitzer Prize winning novelists Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof.<ref name=HTS/><ref name=WP/> In 2014, she spoke at an event with Michelle Obama.<ref name=WP/> In 2016, Murimirwa attended a CAMFED event where Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia, became a patron of the organisation. During the event, Murimirwa stated that "Locally tailored solutions, respectful of context and building on local resources, are key to our success."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/academia-research/julia-gillard-boosts-camfed%E2%80%99s-female-education-fight| title= Julia Gillard boosts CAMFED's female education fight| last=Sweeney| first=Kate| work=Business Weekly| date=10 February 2016| accessdate=24 December 2017}}</ref> In 2017, Murimirwa was included in the 2017 BBC 100 Women list of the most influential women<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC 100 Women 2017: Who is on the list? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-41380265#:~:text=The%20BBC%20has%20revealed%20its,facing%20women%20around%20the%20world. |website=BBC |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref> and she was awarded the 2017 Diamond Ball Honors Award by the Clara Lionel Foundation. At the event, Murimirwa spoke about her personal journey from poverty to her current role at CAMFED, and Murimirwa dedicated the award to the "100,000 CAMFED Association members". The event was attended by celebrities including Dave Chappelle, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Calvin Harris.<ref name=CM/><ref name=Time>{{cite news| url= https://time.com/4940425/rihanna-diamond-ball-report/| title= What It's Like Inside Rihanna's Power Player-Filled Diamond Ball| last=Bruner| first=Raisa| work=Time| date=15 September 2017| access-date=24 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.pazimbabwe.com/entertainment-41609-rihanna-foundation-honours-zimbabwean-woman.html| title=Rihanna Foundation Honours Zimbabwean Woman| publisher=PA Zimbabwe| date=18 September 2017| accessdate=24 December 2017| archive-date=31 October 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031052432/https://www.pazimbabwe.com/entertainment-41609-rihanna-foundation-honours-zimbabwean-woman.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018, during a Royal Visit to Zambia, Prince Harry met with Murimirwa.<ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://people.com/royals/how-prince-harry-women-girls-empowerment-africa-trip/| title= How Prince Harry Is Carrying on Meghan Markle's Campaign for Girls' Empowerment in Africa|last=Perry|first=Simon| magazine=People| date=23 November 2018| accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> In 2019, Murimirwa delivered her first [https://www.ted.com/talks/angie_murimirwa_how_repaying_loans_with_social_service_transforms_communities TED Talk: “How repaying loans with social service transforms communities.]”<ref>{{cite web |title=How repaying loans with social service transforms communities |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/angie_murimirwa_how_repaying_loans_with_social_service_transforms_communities |website=TED |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref> In 2020, Murimirwa was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Development for promoting development of education.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/academia-research/camfed-female-education-ambassadors-awarded-yidan-prize| title=CAMFED female education ambassadors awarded Yidan Prize| publisher=Business Weekly| date=28 September 2020| accessdate=22 April 2021}}</ref> In 2023, she delivered her second [https://www.ted.com/talks/angeline_murimirwa_school_is_just_the_start_here_s_how_to_help_girls_succeed_for_life Ted Talk: "School is just the start. Here's how to help girls succeed for life."]<ref>{{cite web |title=School is just the start. Here's how to help girls succeed for life |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/angeline_murimirwa_school_is_just_the_start_here_s_how_to_help_girls_succeed_for_life |website=TED |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref> In 2024, Murimirwa was named the winner of the prestigious [https://worldeducationmedal.org/about-the-medals/ Africa Education Medal 2024], recognizing her as an extraordinary leader, working tirelessly to transform African education.<ref>{{cite web |title=Angie Murimirwa, CEO of CAMFED, wins Africa Education Medal |url=https://camfed.org/uk/africa-education-medal-winner-angie-murimirwa/ |website=CAMFED |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref>

==Personal life== Murimirwa is married with four children.<ref name=WP/>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murimirwa, Angeline}} Category:Zimbabwean feminists Category:Zimbabwean businesswomen Category:1980s births Category:Living people Category:Yidan Prize laureates