Strong Girls Strong Zambia
The campaign aims to reduce child marriage from 29% to 5% in World Vision Zambia’s areas of operation by reaching and empowering 15,000 girls both retrieved from child marriages and those at risk to live safer, healthier, more productive lives by 2025.
World Vision Zambia's Strong Girls Strong Zambia Campaign aims to support girls retrieved from child marriage and those at risk. The goal of the campaign is to reduce child marriage from 29% to 5% in World Vision Zambia’s areas of operation by reaching and empowering 15,000 girls both retrieved from child marriages and those at risk to live safer, healthier, more productive lives by 2025.
The campaign duration is from October 2022 to September 2025 and aims to raise $8 million over the five year period.
With high rates of child marriages in Zambia, currently estimated at 29%, many children continue to experience:
- Multiple violations of children’s rights,
- Limited or no education and
- Limited economic opportunities.
The campaign will provide practical and sustainable solutions through education support of girls who are retrieved from marriages and those at risk of the vice, for a successful fight against child marriage.
Together we can build a strong Zambia!
It Takes a World to End Violence Against Children
In 2015, World Vision International (WVI) launched a global campaign dubbed “It takes a world to end violence against children.” aimed at ending violence against children
This campaign is woven within the framework of WVI’s Christian identity that states that violence against girls and boys is a violation of the life God desires for every child
In 2017, World Vision in Zambia contextualized the campaign by adopting the theme “ending child marriage” in line with the Government of the Republic of Zambia’s recognition of its negative effect on both the individuals and their communities, if left unchecked.
Barriers to Girls
The impact of child marriage on girls' education
Child brides are almost always forced to drop out of school, same with pregnant girls. In Zambia, 41% of girls under 18 are already married, and the economic impacts of COVID-19 suggest early marriage will increase further.
Menstrual Hygiene impact on girls
Inadequate facilities force female students to remain at home resulting in pupils missing school and sometimes dropping out all together.
Impact of poverty on girls education
Lack of financial capacity to send children to school and keep them in school. Poverty is a significant driver of child marriage in Zambia as with parents perceiving marriage as an economic gain for the household and possible measure to support other children in school (UNICEF, 2015). The study further found that lack of access to employment, information, skills programme, and services including limited recreation facilities contribute to child marriage and early sexual debut.
Impact of lack of water on girls
Women and girls spend several hours hauling water – hours they could spend getting an education, learning a skill, or earning an income.
Partnerships with all stakeholders to support girls' education
Work with the Zambian government through the relevant ministries, corporate institutions, Traditional leaders and local community leaders including parents and children, especially the girls.
Partnerships with CFAO Motors and ZANACO Bank to support girls education
World Vision in Zambia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding worth K1.7 million ZMW with CFAO Motors and ZANACO Bank PLC to support the construction of a classroom block at Kanchomba Secondary School in Pemba District. This is in an effort to support the education of girls retrieved from child marriage and those at risk to ensure they live healthier and more productive lives.
Partnership with ABSA Bank Zambia PLC to support girls' education
World Vision in Zambia signed a Momerandum of Understanding with ABSA Bank Zambia PLC to support the education girls in Kafue district. Through this partnership, ABSA Bank Zambia and World Vision in Zambia staff will also provide mentor girls in various schools in the district.
Girls taking the lead in ending violence against children, especially girls
Empowering Children, especially girls taking bold decisions to speak about the various challenges faced in the communities and hindrances to their education.
