Skills for Life Centre in rural Zambia

We are extremely excited to share progress on the Skills for Life Centre in Sinazongwe. Thanks to your generous support, we have already raised funds to fence the new centre and have successfully drilled a borehole equipped with a solar-powered tank stand, ensuring a sustainable source of clean water for the centre. Additionally, with funding from Guernsey Overseas Aid, we will soon extend the borehole’s pipeline to the local community, enabling families from three nearby villages to access clean water conveniently from a pipe just outside the centre’s gate.

While these milestones mark significant achievements, we are still fundraising to build a dedicated tailoring room within the centre. This space will provide crucial training for 300 girls annually in tailoring and the production of reusable sanitary pads and period underwear—a vital intervention in this rural area of Zambia where less than 1 in 10 girls complete full secondary education, and teenage marriage rates are amongst the highest nationally.

Many girls currently miss school during their periods due to lack of menstrual products. Previous projects have demonstrated that supplying reusable pads reduces absenteeism by 44%, greatly increasing girls’ chances of staying in school. The tailoring room will serve as a central, accessible location for all partner schools, addressing current barriers such as costly and logistically challenging rented training spaces.

To date, we have raised £7,320 towards building costs including window frames, glass, door frames, and roofing. Sewing machines have been generously donated, and a training manual developed from earlier projects is ready. The need for this dedicated space was expressed strongly by girls at ten partner schools during focus groups, who seek a safe place to learn tailoring and produce menstrual hygiene items.

Since the programme began, over 1,300 girls and young women have been trained in making reusable pads, and 97 girls have gained tailoring skills. Completing the tailoring room will strengthen the sustainability of this initiative, reduce training costs, and expand our impact.

If you are able to donate today to help us reach our outstanding fundraising target of £4,380 for the tailoring room, we would be forever grateful. Your continued support is vital to empowering local girls, improving educational outcomes, and transforming lives in Sinazongwe and beyond.