Call to Action: for ESA countries to accelerate the implementation of laws and policies on menstrual hygiene to end “period poverty” The #YouthPower Driving #ESA network urgently calls on the responsible governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to prioritise menstrual hygiene for Adolescent girls and young women. The stark reality is that many school-going young girls miss …
Aliness’ Story Aliness, is a 14-year-old young girl living in Petauke, Zambia. In her village, young people face many challenges such as child marriages, teenage pregancies and child labour. Many girls, including me, and everyone who was married off at a young age are back in school because of the commitment of our village headman …
Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union that takes place before the age of 18. In many contexts, the practice has been shown to have profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts, especially for girls. Children who are poor, live in rural areas and/or are out of school are disproportionally at …
Zambia, like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, is faced with a high burden of disease, especially maternal, child and adolescent health problems; communicable diseases (Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19, among others, and a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. Even though there has been progress in selected health indicators, particularly for maternal …
“I facilitate football drills lessons in community football teams to share sexual health information with young people.” Agness Malunga, 22, is a football player who plays for a youth football team in Katuba, a rural community in Mkushi District, Central Province, Zambia. Growing up, Agness always played football – a male-dominated game in her village. …
The girls challenging gender biases for career independence in Zambia. The boys in the woodwork class were making a coffee table. Purity’s attention was caught by the intricately carved wood and the sharp tools. As she watched the furniture taking shape, she wondered if this was a job that girls could do. Purity, 17, is …
“I could have been married, if not for the Careers Clubs.” Miriam, 18, cannot stop smiling. Her dream of reaching 12th Grade, the third year of secondary education is being realized. For her, this is a great turn around. Just two years ago, Miriam and her five siblings couldn’t attend school because no one could …
Supporting adolescent girls with life skills, mentorship and career opportunites. On a bright sunny day, learners gather around a small solar-powered radio set under a shady tree, in the deepest parts of rural Choma District in Southern Zambia. Equipped with pens and notebooks in their hands, they carefully listen to the recorded radio lessons as …
Standing firm in the middle of a market in rural Zambia is Mwila. Mwila isn’t a business strategist or a management consultant. She is a young person, who, with a little bit of training, set up her own business and is now using her experience to multiply decent livelihoods for young people in her community. …
