Supporting Adolescent Mothers' Education in Zambia

GLOBAL GIVING REPORT

To all our donors and to GlobalGiving:

Thank you for your continued generosity and kindness! Since our last report and with your support, we have so far sent back and/or retained in school 49 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in7districts in Zambia who were at risk of dropping out of school because of teenage pregnancy, child marriage, poverty, or disease, particularly HIV.

We also give gratitude to the generosity of the American people and the U.S. Department of State, American Embassy in Zambia and the Leonna B. and Helmsley Trust who have been supporting us to build resilient community health systems and platforms through which we are identifying the AGYW and giving them comprehensive support to address the socioeconomic determinants of health.

During this reporting period, the generous support of GlobalGiving donors enabled ECAP II to provide integrated education, health, and psychosocial support to vulnerable adolescent girls and young women across Central and Southern Provinces. Educational assistance included school uniforms, shoes, school bags, exercise books, and other essential learning materials that enabled beneficiaries to resume or continue their education. These interventions were complemented by comprehensive case management, HIV prevention and treatment services, psychosocial counselling, child protection, and linkages to social protection and education stakeholders.

Collaboration with the District Education Board, schools, caregivers, and community structures ensured successful re-enrolment and improved school retention. Teachers have reported encouraging improvements in attendance, classroom participation, confidence, and academic performance. Several beneficiaries who had previously dropped out because of pregnancy are now progressing well academically and remain determined to complete their education and build better futures for themselves and their children.
The programme also demonstrated the value of integrating education support with HIV prevention and treatment services. Pregnant and breastfeeding adolescent girls received counselling, psychosocial support, maternal health education, routine HIV prevention services, and PrEP where indicated. Adolescents living with HIV continued to benefit from adherence counselling, viral load monitoring, treatment support, and regular follow-up by Community Case Workers. These integrated interventions have contributed to improved treatment adherence, sustained viral suppression, healthier pregnancies, and better outcomes for HIV-exposed infants while ensuring beneficiaries remain engaged in education.

Here is a snapshot of the AGYW:

CENTRAL PROVINCE

AGYW A:

Sex/Age: F/14

Subpopulation: Teen Mother

Community: Kawama

District: Kabwe

This is 14-year-old teen mother AGYW A, whose story we previously shared after she was identified for educational support. Today, we are delighted to report on the progress she has made since returning to school through your generous support.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this young mother is now back where she has always longed to be - in the classroom. The support she received has enabled her to return to school with the uniforms, learning materials, and other essential supplies she needed, allowing her to focus on her education without the added burden of financial barriers.

Her teachers report that she has adapted well to school life and is steadily catching up with her studies. Demonstrating her commitment to academic success, she plans to attend extra tuition classes during the school holidays to strengthen her performance. She dreams of becoming either a teacher or a doctor, with her greatest aspiration being to study medicine if she qualifies for a scholarship.

Her ability to balance motherhood, education, and the responsibility of supporting her child is a powerful reflection of her resilience, determination, and hope for a brighter future. She remains deeply grateful for the opportunity your support has given her - a second chance to pursue her education and work towards achieving her dreams.

AGYW B:

Sex/Age: F/14

Subpopulation: Child/Adolescent Living with HIV (C/ALHIV)

Community: Bwacha

District: Kabwe

This is 14-year-old AGYW B, whom we previously introduced when she was first identified for educational support. Today, we are pleased to share her encouraging progress.

The unwavering support of her ECAP II Community Case Worker, combined with the generosity of GlobalGiving donors, has transformed what once seemed an uncertain future into one filled with hope and opportunity. Through donor-funded education support, she has successfully returned to school, where she is thriving both academically and personally. Although the school initially considered placing her in Grade 5 due to the time she had spent out of school, an academic assessment demonstrated that she had retained much of her knowledge and was capable of succeeding in Grade 6 and enabling her to rejoin her peers at the appropriate grade level.

Her teachers describe her as hardworking, well-behaved, and eager to learn. She has settled into school life with confidence, continues to perform well academically, and is embracing every opportunity to rebuild her education. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys playing football and dreams of one day becoming a professional football player. She also aspires to become a doctor so that she can help others in her community. Her resilience, renewed confidence, and enthusiasm for learning are a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of education. She remains deeply grateful for the opportunity your generosity has given her - restoring not only her access to school, but also her hope for a brighter future.

AGYW C:

Sex/age: F/17

Subpopulation: Teen Mother

Community: Makululu

District: Kabwe

This is 17-year-old adolescent mother AGYW C, who lives with her mother while caring for her eight-month-old child. Despite the responsibilities of motherhood, she remains determined to continue her education and is currently enrolled in Grade 8. However, the financial challenges faced by her family meant that meeting the cost of essential school requirements had become increasingly difficult, placing her at risk of dropping out.

Recognizing her determination to stay in school, a Case Worker provided ongoing encouragement and worked to identify educational support that would enable her to continue learning while caring for her child. Thanks to the generosity of GlobalGiving donors, she received a school uniform, school shoes, a school bag, and other essential learning materials. This support has eased the financial burden on her family, allowing her to remain in school with renewed confidence and focus on her education.

The Case Worker continues to provide regular follow-up support and linkages to available services to help ensure that both she and her child continue to access the care and assistance they need.

Today, she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue her education without the constant worry of how her family will meet the cost of basic school requirements. She is determined to work hard in her studies and dreams of becoming a successful professional so that she can provide a brighter future for herself and her child.

Her story is a powerful reminder that timely educational support can transform lives. By investing in adolescent girls' education, donors are not only helping young mothers remain in school but are also empowering them to build brighter futures for themselves, their children, and their communities.

AGYW D:

Sex/age: F/18

Subpopulation: Negative Pregnant/Breastfeeding Woman (PBFW)

Community: Chawama

District: Kapiri-Mposhi

This is 18-year-old AGYW D, who lives with her caregiver and siblings in a household facing significant economic hardship. The family's primary source of income is occasional piecework, which is often insufficient to meet even their most basic needs. As a result, providing essential school requirements had become a major challenge, placing her education at risk.

Despite these circumstances, AGYW D has remained hardworking, and committed to her education. Determined not to let financial barriers prevent her from achieving her goals, she continued to pursue every opportunity to remain in school. Recognizing her commitment, our Case Worker worked to identify educational support that would enable her to continue her studies.

Thanks to the generosity of GlobalGiving donors, AGYW D has now been successfully re-enrolled in school. The support she received has removed a significant financial burden from her household and given her the opportunity to continue her education with renewed hope and confidence.

As she is preparing to report back to school on 17^th July following the completion of school examinations, she looks forward to resuming her studies and making the most of the opportunity your support has made possible. The Case Worker will continue providing follow-up support and linking the household to available services aimed at strengthening their well-being and resilience.

AGYW E:

Sex/age: F/18

Subpopulation:Teen mother

Community: Zambia compound

District:Kapiri

This is 18-year-old adolescent mother AGYW E, who temporarily dropped out of school after becoming pregnant while in Grade 9. An orphan, she lives with her grandmother and four younger siblings, with the family relying on small-scale farming as their primary source of livelihood. While caring for her infant, she faced significant financial challenges in meeting the cost of essential school requirements, placing her education at risk.

Despite these circumstances, AGYW E never lost sight of her goal of completing her education. Thanks to the generous support of our GlobalGiving donors, AGYW E has now been able to return to school with the essential educational supplies she needs to continue her studies. This support has eased the financial burden on her family and enabled her to focus on her education while caring for her child.

Today, AGYW E is grateful for the opportunity to continue her education and is determined to work hard to achieve her goals. Her journey is a testament to the resilience of adolescent mothers and demonstrates how timely educational support can help young women overcome barriers, remain in school, and create brighter futures for themselves and their children.

SOUTHERN PROVINCE:    

AGYW F:

Sex/age: F/20

Sub population: C/ALHIV

Community: Linda Community

District: Livingstone

This is 20-year-old AGYW F, whose story we previously shared after she was identified through the ECAP II program. At the time, she was facing significant challenges as a young mother living with HIV, including difficulties with treatment adherence, an unplanned pregnancy, and having dropped out of school. Today, we are delighted to share the remarkable progress she has made through continued support and care.

Through regular home visits, counselling, adherence support, and psychosocial care from her ECAP II Case Worker, AGYW F rebuilt her confidence, re-engaged with HIV treatment, and made important decisions about her health and future. Through this support, she achieved viral suppression, with her most recent viral load recorded at just 40 copies/mL, demonstrating the positive impact of consistent treatment adherence and ongoing support.

Following a family discussion involving AGYW F, her grandparents, and her partner, she made the decision to leave the marriage and return to school while maintaining a supportive relationship focused on the wellbeing of herself and her child. Thanks to the generous support of our GlobalGiving donors, she received essential educational materials that enabled her to successfully return to school and continue pursuing her education.

As a young mother, AGYW F has also continued to receive comprehensive maternal and child health support. Her ECAP II Case Worker provided postnatal counselling, health education, and guidance to support her recovery after childbirth and ensure she remained connected to essential health services. Her baby girl has continued to receive HIV-exposed infant care, with all early infant diagnosis results showing no evidence of HIV infection, alongside routine immunizations, growth monitoring, and nutritional support.

Today, AGYW F is making encouraging progress in school while confidently balancing her responsibilities as both a learner and a mother. Her journey is a powerful reminder that with the right combination of health, education, and psychosocial support, adolescent mothers living with HIV can overcome barriers, remain healthy, protect their children

AGYW G:

Sex/age: F/15

Sub population: Teen Pregnancy

Community: Chivuna community

District: Mazabuka

This is AGYW G, a 15-year-old adolescent girl who is 20 weeks pregnant. She lives with her single mother and siblings in a household experiencing financial hardship, placing her at risk of dropping out of school. Despite these challenges, she remains committed to completing her education and continues to attend school, where her academic performance has remained steady.

Recognizing the importance of early intervention, her case worker linked her to antenatal care soon after her pregnancy was identified and has continued providing regular home visits and psychosocial support. Throughout this reporting period, she has received education on pregnancy danger signs, birth preparedness, maternal nutrition, and the importance of attending routine antenatal services. She has also been supported to adhere to oral PrEP and undergo routine maternal HIV re-testing in line with national guidelines, helping her protect both her health and that of her unborn child.

The support she has received has strengthened her confidence, improved her preparedness for motherhood, and encouraged her to remain committed to completing her education. Through collaboration between her family, school, and health providers, AGYW G continues to receive the care and support she needs to remain healthy, stay in school, and work towards her future goals.

AGYW H:

Sex/age: F/17

Subpopulation: Adolescent Living with HIV

Community: Plan 2000 Community

District: Mazabuka

This is 17-year-old AGYW H, a young woman living with HIV who was enrolled into the program after facing barriers that affected both her education and psychosocial well-being. Before receiving support, challenges accessing school fees and essential learning materials had contributed to prolonged absence from school and limited her ability to fully participate in learning.

Through the program, AGYW H received continued HIV treatment support, including adherence counselling, assistance with medication collection, and support to access viral load monitoring services. She also received essential educational materials, including schoolbooks, shoes, a jersey, and a complete uniform, removing key barriers that had prevented her from attending school consistently.

The impact has been significant. Within months of receiving support, her school attendance improved from approximately 60% to over 95%. Her teachers have also noted increased classroom participation, and she has remained engaged in her studies without further absences linked to a lack of school requirements.

AGYW H’s progress highlights the importance of addressing the interconnected challenges that affect young people living with HIV. By combining health support with education assistance, the program is helping her to remain in school, maintain her health, and continue working towards her goals with greater confidence.

The continued partnership with GlobalGiving is making a measurable difference in the lives of these adolescent girls and young women. By investing in education alongside health, psychosocial support, HIV services, and household strengthening, donors are helping break cycles of poverty and vulnerability while creating lasting opportunities for girls to thrive. Every school uniform, book, pair of shoes, counselling session, and follow-up visit represents more than immediate assistance - it represents renewed hope, restored dignity, and another opportunity for a young person to realize their full potential.

Links:

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• PCZ_Global_Giving_Report_JULY_2026.pdf (PDF)