Ensuring our students can lead healthy, secure, and productive lives

Our work extends beyond the lines of traditional education, towards a shared mission of improving the overall lives of rural children in Zambia.  With the school as a starting point, we are able to make broad changes across families and communities to improve not only their educational outcomes, but also their overall wellbeing.

THE PROBLEM

Sexual and reproductive health information is essential for the futures of young women in rural communities, but only a third of primary school students in Eastern Province are provided with sex education. The lack of sexual and reproductive health education leads to a high risk of unplanned pregnancies and compounds the cycle of poverty in rural Zambia.

Additionally, the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is higher when people lack access to health education. A nationwide survey commissioned by UNESCO in 2013 found that only 25% of girls and boys have sufficient knowledge of HIV. Zambia is experiencing a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a national HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15 to 49 of 12%, the 7th highest rate globally.

Last, most young women are likely to encounter violence from future partners. The latest study showed that the proportion of women aged 15-49 experiencing intimate partner violence at least once in their lifetime was an incredible 43%. Young women are not often given adequate life skills training to help them deal with and escape such violence, and more importantly, young men are not taught the importance of respect, consent, and advocacy for the women in their lives.

the solution

To solve the health issues facing our students we use a multi-pronged approach.

Every single one of our students has a trusted adult to confide in, and access to a trained social worker. Impact Network is committed to a 'zero tolerance' of all forms of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. This includes collaboration with parents, traditional leaders, and law enforcement agencies to create a safe learning environment and promote and safeguard the well-being of all our pupils.

All students in grades 5 and higher complete weekly Life Skills and Sexuality workshops.  This supplemental program teaches skills that will benefit the students in their transition into their teenage years and subsequent adulthood.  Topics surround transferable skills such as communication and problem solving, as well as difficult topics like teenage pregnancy, sexuality transmitted diseases, and gender-based violence. Life Skills and Sexuality is taught as a compliment to the eSchool 360 and is designed to add a safe space with a trusted adult where students can learn and contribute in small groups.

In addition to working with students, we also work to promote good health within the community more broadly. We conduct workshops for teachers, PTA members, and community members on WASH, HIV / AIDS prevention, and gender-based violence prevention.

Looking Forward: Impact Health is our newest group of projects and we will be adding more comprehensive health programs in the future!