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Prof Penina Mlama, Executive Director, Camfed Tanzania

Prof Penina Mlama, Executive Director, Camfed TanzaniaPenina Mlama is the former Executive Director of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), widely recognised across Africa for its leadership, especially in the field of girls’ education, with operations in more than thirty countries. She joined Camfed Tanzania as Executive Director in October 2007.

Penina served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics at the University of Dar es Salaam, where she was awarded her PhD in the Theatre Arts. Dr Mlama is also an acclaimed thespian and published playwright.

Penina has incorporated her development work into several theatre projects with Oxfam and UNICEF as well as other organisations. She co-founded the TUSEME (let us speak out) model for empowerment of youth for gender equality. She also founded the Gender Responsive Pedagogy and the Gender Responsive School models. All three models have been widely applied in schools across sub-Saharan Africa. In May 2007, she was honoured by UNICEF for her exemplary work and years of service in the promotion of girls’ education in Africa.