Sponsor a Child in Zambia

 
Map of Zambia
  • ChildFund came to Zambia: 1983
  • Population below poverty line: 70%

Life is Short in Zambia

Life expectancy in Zambia, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, is less than 40 years and the under-5 mortality rate is 168 per 1,000 live births. Out of every 10,000 women, 64 die during pregnancy or childbirth. More than 14 percent of Zambian adults (15-49) are infected with HIV and more than 800,000 children have been orphaned or lost a parent due to HIV/AIDS.

The first nine years of basic education are free and thus most students remain in school for this duration. The later years however present a challenge for most families as they are required to pay.

Putting Mothers and Children First

“In the past, we used to have short classroom sessions so that we could accommodate as many pupils as possible, but with the additional classroom blocks, this is now a thing of the past.”

– Lucy Nyirongo,
a teacher in the Kasaka community

We know that when young girls become mothers at a young age, as they do in Zambia, their overall health is at risk. We created the Safe Motherhood program to help reduce the dangers of pregnancy and delivery. Regular pre-natal care and access to healthcare facilities as well as trained midwives and birth attendants help both mother and child get a healthy start.

Fighting Preventable Diseases

Malaria is the leading cause of death for Zambian children under 5. Transmitted by mosquitoes, the disease is completely preventable. Education and treated bed net distribution are just two ways we help keep children alive. Our immunization programs help protect children from early childhood diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, tetanus and measles. We also work to prevent the spread of other communicable diseases including pneumonia and diarrhea.

Education is Critical

We know that children and young adults yearn to be educated but are often unable to attend school because of distance or lack of adequate facilities and materials. In Zambia, we focus on access to education through high school and have constructed classrooms and provided teaching materials as well as classroom furniture. We use the CLASSE (Children Learning Actively in Supportive Environments) model to improve education through child-centered learning environments and relevant curriculum and learning materials. We also work with parents and local administrators to encourage student involvement in activities to stimulate and foster learning opportunities.

Lucy Nyirongo , a teacher in the Kasaka community, likes the new classrooms because students are much more comfortable and thus able to spend more time learning. “In the past, we used to have short classroom sessions so that we could accommodate as many pupils as possible,” she says. “But with the additional classroom blocks, this is now a thing of the past.”

Sponsor a child in Zambia and make a difference in a child’s life.
sponsor a child button

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment

Because HIV/AIDS is a part of life in Zambia, our prevention programs include testing and counseling services, and youth-centered, mother-to-child and gender-based education. Home-based care and support is provided to orphans, caregivers and their families. People living with the disease have access to food and nutritional support, legal aid and medical care.

From 300 children in 1983 to more than 30,000 children today, ChildFund provides assistance in Zambia to help impoverished children live healthier lives, and help them become productive members of their communities and to thrive.