Zambia

Our health programmes work to equip hard-to-reach people – especially prisoners, and young people living in rural areas – with the skills, knowledge, opportunities and services they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

On the remote island of Mbabala on Lake Bangweulu, we’ve increased uptake of contraceptives and reduced teenage pregnancies through our Adolescent TALK! project – a community-focused intervention which worked to challenge existing taboos and empower young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Alongside building the capacity of health service providers, we reached almost 8,000 young people across the rural Samfya district through a comprehensive awareness-raising programme combining peer education, radio listening clubs, and community champions who promoted positive attitudes and healthy behaviours.

Tackling sexual health taboos

As part of our regional prison health programme across southern Africa, we work to improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and general wellbeing of highly vulnerable prison populations. Our innovative approach uses the power of peer-to-peer education to improve prisoners' knowledge of SRH and communicable diseases, whilst developing inmate-led support groups that provide essential counselling and cell-based care.

Improving the health and wellbeing of prison populations in southern Africa

Our livelihoods programming works to equip some of Zambia’s most marginalised populations – including prisoners, ex-offenders, young people and women – with the knowledge and skills they need to earn a decent living. The Youth Entrepreneurshop Programme (YEP) has supported 486 young entrepreneurs through training in business services and expert coaching, as well as establishing 10 business clubs.