World Vision Southern Africa, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund, is implementing adolescent-friendly spaces (AFS) across Zambia to support young people in making informed Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) decisions. Through the IMPACT+ model, a life skills approach integrating education, behavior change, and service-learning, over 36,000 out-of-school adolescents have been reached with SRH interventions, empowering them to navigate challenges like early pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and peer pressure. By equipping peer educators and health workers with IMPACT+ skills, the initiative fosters safe spaces where adolescents can access SRHR education, receive guidance, and build confidence. With increased community involvement and government support, this model is paving the way for sustainable adolescent health and well-being in the region.

World Vision supplied Rose with school materials and financial support to help her enrol in the Kpando-Agbanu Community Inclusive Special School. Now, Rose is thriving, learning skills to achieve her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

Phue is a Grade 5 student who lives with her parents and four siblings in a dilapidated house on borrowed land. Her father does odd jobs, and her mother sells fish and occasionally does other labor work. Despite their hardships, Phue remains cheerful and optimistic.

World Vision eases Kapanda school's resource shortage

The Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach has significantly transformed the education sector by empowering communities to advocate for better educational services and infrastructure. Through CVA, parents, teachers, and local leaders actively engage with policymakers to address challenges such as inadequate school facilities, teacher shortages, and lack of learning materials. As a result, many schools have seen improved resource allocation, enhanced accountability, and increased enrollment rates, ultimately creating a more conducive learning environment for children

For years, many households in Namwala District struggled with financial insecurity, lacking opportunities to break the cycle of poverty worsened by the recent El Nino drought. With limited economic activities and skills, families faced hardships providing for their children’s education and daily needs. However, hope emerged through World Vision Zambia under the Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments’ (THRIVE) Tailoring Enterprise Development Initiative, an effort designed to equip community members with essential skills for financial independence.

Imagine being 16 and having to miss school for three days every month, or having to sit and write on the floor because there is no chair, desk, or bench at your school. This was Elizabeth’s reality until the Enabling Meaningful Participation of Women and Girls for Essential Rights (EMPOWER) project, funded by Irish Aid, brought big changes to Melut Girls Primary School.