In Zambia, an estimated 1.3 million orphans and vulnerable children and adolescents are infected with, or affected by, HIV. The USAID Empowered Children and Adolescents Program provides holistic, needs-based services to vulnerable children, adolescents, and their caregivers.

The USAID Empowered Children and Adolescents Program I works specifically in focus districts in North-Western, Copperbelt, Luapula, and Northern provinces to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and improve the health and well-being of highly vulnerable children and adolescents and their families. Targeting the communities hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, the program provides wrap-around, needs-based services to support the resilience of families to be healthy, stable, safe, and schooled, working in partnership with health facilities, schools, and other community structures. By responding to the unique needs of children and adolescents living with or at high risk of HIV, the USAID Empowered Children and Adolescents Program I is contributing to epidemic control in Zambia.

 

Life of Project: September 2020 – September 2025

Geographic Focus:  Targeted districts in North-Western, Copperbelt, Luapula, and Northern provinces

Partner: Access to Health Zambia (formerly Catholic Medical Mission Board – formerly Zambia)

Chief of Party: Annie Z. Banda, AZBanda@cmmb.org

Total USAID and PEPFAR Funding: $17,800,000

 USAID Contact: Erin Berghammer, EBerghammer@usaid.gov

Goals 

goal one 

Support vulnerable children and orphans and their families to be stable by improving household economic security and linkage to social protection.

goal two 

Support vulnerable children and orphans and their families to be safe by improving child protection and prevention of gender-based violence.

goal three 

Support vulnerable children and orphans and their families to be schooled by improving school retention and progression.

Key Results for 2022

  • Over 62,200 orphans or vulnerable children and 16,094 caregivers received services. 
  • Almost 8,700 adolescent boys completed the 12 Coaching Boys into Men sessions.
  • Over 8,500 adolescent girls completed the 13 Steppingstone life skills sessions.
  • Approximately 12,300 children of HIV positive mothers were linked to HIV Testing Services, all of the 31 children who tested positive for HIV were linked to treatment.
  • Over 1,400 caregivers used earnings from their savings and loan groups to pay for education and health services for their families.
  • 473 vulnerable children and adolescents who had dropped out of school and 226 at-risk of dropping out, received shoes and books to support their schooling.
  • Over 6,100 caregivers successfully completed the Healthy Homes Parenting Program.
Tags
Zambia Active Project