ChildFund Zambia
      (www.childfund.org)

Child Empowerment

 Background

Zambia like many sub-Saharan African countries has been hit hard by the HIV and
AIDs pandemic. One of its worst manifestations is the increasing number of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC). The high levels of poverty and debilitating effects of HIV/AIDs on families and all sectors of the economy have posed major developmental challenges to policy makers and implementers. For Children, the situation has been compounded by the fact that past policies and development programme strategies on children have often treated them as recipients of development assistance without necessarily getting them involved.

Through dialogue with a number of children and particularly OVC, it is evident that the following are specific existing gaps: 

• Lack of child’s voice in Policy and Developmental activities;

• Children are treated as end recipients and not actors/partners
• Tokenism participation whereby the child is only involved in providing entertainment at ceremonies i.e. dancing etc
• Child participation is regarded as a one-off and not integral developmental activity
• Children are impacted negatively by HIV/AIDS but have no channel through which they can identify solutions to problems affecting them
• Lack of channel through which child leadership potential could be harnessed and built

Current institutional, policy framework and the developed mitigating responses to social and economic crisis faced by children do not allow them to effectively get involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the programmes which are aimed at addressing their social and economic needs. The children are not listened to by society and as a result society tends to address symptoms other than the causes to their problems.

It is for this reason that ChildFund Zambia through the OVC program deliberately involved children in childcare activities.

GOAL

Develop a cadre of children who are well informed on issues concerning their welfare and are able to influence policies and programs.

            OBJECTIVES

• To enable children engage, interact, discuss exchange and share experiences, and respond to issues affecting their well-being.

• To facilitate child participation in policy advocacy campaign by June 2007.

TARGET
Children aged 10 to 17 years from ChildFund supported communities

PROGRESS TO DATE

ChildFund Zambia through the Australian Partnership with African Communities (APAC) program seeks to enhance child participation in community, district and national level programs.
In order to achieve this, children’s committees have been formed which are intended to be:

• Platforms where children can discuss and suggest solutions to problems affecting them
• A bridge between policy makers, development actors and children
• Instruments used for advocacy and lobby to influence decision makers at community, national /local government and donors on issues directly affecting them
• Tools for promoting effective Child participation in national development
• Channels where children’s leadership potential can be developed.

In order to enhance child participation in program activities, the following has been done:

Child mobilization

Children have been mobilized through meetings and recreation to form committees where issues affecting their welfare are discussed. The children have developed action plans and are carrying out their activities with support from community leaders, caregivers, youth child mobilisers, NGOs, Community Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Committees (COVCCs) and District Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Committees (DOVCCs). A total of 48 children’s committees have since been formed in the 12 ChildFund projects where the APAC program is being implemented. Children meet to discuss various issues such as child labour, child defilement, poor education standards, and early marriages, among others. The children have also been able to engage policy markers at community and national levels to air their views. The children have been able to create awareness on Advocacy issues has through newsletter publications.

Capacity building
News letter by the youth group

A total of 160 Children have been trained in advocacy, story writing and peer counseling to enable them carry out their work. Exchange visits have also been organized for children to facilitate shared learning across communities.

Linkages to other service providers and key players in the community and district 

The children’s groups have been linked to community leaders, COVCCs, government departments and NGOs at national level such as REPSSI, World Vision and Care International. The children have since gained membership of the Global Movement for Children on which they are participating actively.

Participation in community, district and national level events

The children participate in various community, district and national level events where they meet various stakeholders and present their views. Events participated in so far include advocacy meetings with Ministers and Police, community leaders, district officials, commemoration of national days and community level sporting and other events.

Youth advocating against
child abuse to the Minister
Other Support

Children’s groups have received other support such as stationery, transport, shelter, computers, printers, cameras, food, encouragement, guidance and IEC materials. ChildFund Zambia (APAC and Projects) also facilitate appointments with decision markers. Other supporters for children are the district departments/DOVCCs (Police, Health, Social Welfare, Community development, Education, District AIDS task Force), COVCCs, community leaders, caregivers, teachers and youth.

SPECIFIC CHILDREN’S GROUPS’ ACTIVITIES

CHAINDA CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE

• Located in Chongwe about 30km from Lusaka
• Has a membership of about 20 children
• Has a resource center where they meet and plan their work
• Conduct community sensitization on child abuse, children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, drug  

      abuse and childcare

• Identify cases of abuse and report to relevant authorities
• Mobilize fellow children for recreation
• Hold advocacy meetings with community and district leaders to present issues of  Concern
  MUTAMINO CHILDREN AND YOUTH GROUPS
  IGA –Youth with Curioss    

• Located in Chongwe about 30km from Lusaka
• Has a membership of about 35 children
• Has a youth center where they meet and plan their work
• Conduct community sensitization on child abuse, children’s  

       rights, HIV/AIDS, drug  abuse and childcare

• Identify cases of abuse and report to relevant authorities
• Mobilize fellow children and youth for recreation
• Hold advocacy meetings with community and district leaders to present issues of concern
• Identify needy children and refers them to sources of support
• Use PSS tools to build resilience in children
• Conduct VCT at the youth center

KAFUE CENTRAL CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE

• Located in Kafue about 45km from Lusaka
• Has a membership of about 20 children
• Has a resource center where they meet and plan their

       work

• Provides support  to peers (clothing, educational   

      materials, encouragement)

• Newsletter publication as an advocacy tool
• Identifies cases of abuse and report to relevant

     authorities

Children’s Committee

• Holds advocacy meetings with community, district and national leaders to present issues of concern
• Identifies needy children and refers them to sources of support
• Uses PSS tools to build resilience in children

TITHANDIZANE CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE

• Located in Kafue about 45km from Lusaka
• Has a membership of about 20 children
• Provides support to peers (visits other children that are bereaved, sick)
• Conduct community sensitization on child abuse, HIV/AIDS, children’s rights and responsibilities
• Identifies cases of abuse and report to relevant authorities
• Holds advocacy meetings with community, district and national leaders to present issues of concern
• Identifies needy children and refers them to sources of support
• Uses PSS tools to build resilience in children