Empowerment Programs
Zambia's goal is to achieve gender equality by 2030. Gender Equality and Empowerment is something that FHCI cares deeply about and is actively working towards. In order to help Zambia meet this goal, and in turn, to meet our own goal, we offer several Empowerment and Impact Programs.
“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”
— Michelle Obama
If you are passionate about Gender Equality and Empowerment, help us achieve our goal by donating towards this program!
Girl Impact Program
We launched our first Girl Impact Program in January 2021. This program was a year long course for the grade 6 - 12 girls in our sponsorship program, as well as for girls from surrounding schools. Approximately forty girls attended this course. Since the majority of girls do not have access to menstrual hygiene products, we provided each girl in the program with a menstrual hygiene bag, containing underwear, soap, and either five reusable pads, or a reusable menstrual cup.
In 2022 we decided to make a condensed ten week version of this course so that we could expand our reach and impact. We began partnering with the Lilato Foundation and Nyanzabili Basic School. In Term One we held Girl Impact Sessions for approximately 30 of the grade 8 girls and in Term Two we held Boy Impact Sessions for the grade 8 boys from Nyanzabili Basic School at Lilato Community Center. During these programs we covered the following topics:
Introduction Biological Sex, Gender, & Gender Steryotypes
Self - Esteem and Positive Body Image
Puberty and the Female & Male Reproductive Systems
Sexual Activity, How Pregnancy Happens, STI’s & Contraception
Responsibilities of having a baby and Postpartum Depression
Consent, Gender Based Violence, and Sexual Exploitation
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
Human Rights
Mental Health: Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, PTST, and C - PTSD
In Term One of 2023 we also covered the above topics with the the grade 8 girls and boys from Libala Basic School. During Terms Two and Three we are partnering with Malota Community School where we are running Impact Programs with approximatley 120 grade 6 and 7 students.
13%
of girls make it to grade 9
25%
of girls have had at least one child by 18
42%
of girls are married before 18
Boy Impact Program
We launched our first Boy Impact Program in May 2021. Our Boy Impact Program. Educating the boys in Zambia about gender equality, consent, and sexual exploitation, in addition to the other topics that they learn about in the boy impact program, is just as important, if not more so, than educating the girls on these topics. The mindset of the boys and men in Zambia is what is perpetuating the vast gender disparity. Gender equality cannot be achieved until the males in Zambia realize that women deserve to be treated and respected equally and equitably.
As mentioned in the section above, in June 2022 we began running Boy Impact with the grade eight boys from Nyanzabili School. During these sessions we covered the same topics that we did with the girls in the Girl Impact Program, with a few additional topics such as Toxic Masculinity. In March and April 2023 we ran a ten session Boy Impact Program with the grade eight boys from Libala Basic School.
In May 2023 we began running Girl and Boy Impact Programs with the grade 6 and 7 students at Malota Community School. This school is in an extremely impoverished area with high rates of crime, teen pregnancy, and drug abuse. For this reason, we are extending the program to cover addition topics, including:
Toxic Masculinity
Substance Abuse
Peer Pressure
As well as other topics that may arise throughout the term.
Combined Impact Program
During the Term Two Holiday in August 2022 we launched our first ever Combined Impact Program for the 70, grade 6 - 12, students in our sponsorship program. This program consisted of six sessions spread out over a two week period. The topics for these sessions were:
Session 1: Biological Sex, Gender, Gender Stereotypes, and Toxic Masculinity
Session 2: Consent, Sexual Exploitation, Gender Based Violence, and Human Rights
Session 3: Self Esteem, Self Confidence, and Mental Health
Session 4: Puberty, the Male and Female Reproductive Systems, and How Pregnancy Happens
Session 5: STI’s, Contraceptives, the Responsibilities of Having a Baby and Healthy Relationships
Session 6: Review and Test
The students enjoyed this program and they preformed very well on the test! At the end of the program we handed out certificates to the students who completed the program and we gave chocolate bars to reward the students who showed up on time to all six sessions!
In 2023 we facilitated our second annual combined impact program for the grade 6 - 12 students on our sponsorship program!
Year Long Impact Programs
The current termly, and holiday Impact Programs that we offer are condensed versions of our year long Impact Program. The topics covered in our year long Impact Program are:
Biological Sex, Gender Roles, Stereotypes, Gender Based Violence and Gender Equality
Consent, Autonomy, and Human rights
Toxic Masculinity and Sexual Exploitation
Puberty and the Female & Male Reproductive Systems
How Pregnancy Happens
Contraception, Family Planning, and STI/HIV prevention
Responsibility of having a Baby and Marriage
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
Mental Health and Mental Illnesses
Self Esteem, Self Confidence, and Positive Body Image
Peer Pressure and Making Good Decisions
The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol
Communication and Teamwork
Conflict Resolution & Problem-solving Skills
What bullying is and How to Prevent it
Community Empowerment Group
Our Community Empowerment Group is open to all community members in Livingstone. In this group parents, guardians, and other community members will learn about human rights, family planning/contraception, how to engage with their children in a healthy way, how to have healthy relationships with their children, how to make their children feel loved and accepted, how to have difficult conversations with their children, as well a variety of other topics. After each session parents have an opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences (only if they feel comfortable doing so), and discuss the session topic. In 2022 we hosted our first Community Empowerment Group Sessions. We had an amazing turn out and nearly 150 parents, guardians, and community members attended between the two sessions! In 2023 we hosted another community and empowerment group session and the participation of this session was incredible!
