All I wanted was to go back to school.
This was the quiet hope Chikondi* carried with her when she was forced into marriage as a young girl. Growing up in Eastern Province, Zambia, her future was shaped by a decision she didn’t choose—one that threatened her education, her rights, and her safety.
But Chikondi’s story didn’t end there.
Thanks to the Chitetezo project—a youth-led initiative by Restless Development Zambia, funded by UNICEF—Chikondi found the support she needed. Chitetezo, meaning protection or shield, works to end gender-based violence, child marriage, teen pregnancy, and other harmful practices through youth-led action in schools and communities.
Once she was out of the marriage, Chikondi didn’t just return to school—she began to speak out.
Through Chitetezo, she took part in community dialogues, awareness campaigns, and outreach with local leaders. Alongside trained youth volunteers, Chikondi helped educate her peers and community members about the risks of early marriage and the importance of girls’ education. She joined efforts to mobilise teachers, social workers, and village leaders to better protect girls from harmful traditional practices.
One of the turning points came when Chikondi and the youth team met with Chieftainess Kawaza, who welcomed them into her palace and expressed her full support for their sensitisation efforts. By engaging traditional authorities, the team was able to help strengthen community-level protection systems and shift public attitudes.
Today, Chikondi is more than a survivor—she’s a leader.
Her voice, once silenced, is now helping to shape a safer, more just future for other girls in her community.
We met Chieftainess Kawaza and she supported us. She welcomed us in the palace and supported our sensitisation efforts in fighting child marriages.
— Youth Volunteer, Chitetezo Project
*Name changed to protect identity.
