Orphaned girl starts university at 14

She grew up in grinding poverty and lost both of her parents, but 14-year-old whizz-kid Maud Chifamba defied adversity and hardship to break academic records. Last week she became the youngest ever student to attend university in Zimbabwe, writes Teo Kermeliotis for CNN.

Maud, who was born on 19 November 1997, has just started her studies toward a bachelor of accountancy degree at the University of Zimbabwe. Her intellectual prowess and hard work have earned her a four-year scholarship worth nearly US$10,000 after she excelled at last year's Advanced Level exams.

Born to a poor family in the Hunters resettlement community in Chegutu, central Zimbabwe, Maud lost her father when she was just five years old. Her mother passed away last year. Her two brothers, who are farm workers, were unable to pay the fees required to keep her at school so Maud started studying vigorously at home all by herself.
Full report on the CNN site