End Period Poverty for 400 Girls in Kafue, Zambia

Girls Reaching Girls: The Power of Peer Education

At the African Education Program, we believe young people are not simply beneficiaries of change, they can be among its most effective leaders.

Our flagship Learning & Leadership Center, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), recently released its 2025 Impact Report, offering a powerful look at what locally led, youth-driven change can accomplish in Kafue, Zambia. Throughout the year, AYC empowered more than 8,000 children, youth, women, and community members through education, health, leadership, and livelihood programs.

One of the report’s most encouraging findings is the growing role girls and young women are playing in reaching their peers.

Since 2023, AYC has trained 200 peer educators, including 128 young women. In 2025 alone, 198 active peer educators reached 3,913 young people in schools and communities with information and support related to reproductive health, gender equity, drug abuse prevention, positive decision-making, and leadership development.

Girls represented more than half of those reached: 2,178 girls received information and support from peer educators during the year.

Peer education is especially powerful because young people often feel more comfortable discussing sensitive subjects with someone close to their own age. A trained peer can create a safe space for honest questions, challenge harmful misconceptions, and connect another young person with additional services when needed. At the same time, peer educators strengthen their own confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities.

AYC also paired reproductive health education with practical menstrual support. In 2025, the local team produced 2,400 reusable menstrual pads and distributed packs of six pads to 206 girls. Access to reliable menstrual products helps girls manage their periods safely and confidently while reducing one of the barriers that can prevent them from attending school.

These results demonstrate the ripple effect of investing in girls. When a girl receives accurate information, she can make more informed decisions. When she is equipped as a peer educator, she can share that knowledge with dozens of others. And when girls are trusted to lead, their influence can extend across schools, families, and entire communities.

Thank you for helping girls in Zambia become informed, confident leaders who are creating change for themselves and their peers.

With gratitude,

Pamela O'Brien

Acting Executive Director

Links:

• Reproductive Health Access Initiative
• African Education Program