Sensitizing
and Mobilizing Communities in Zambia to Meet the Challenges
of School Health and Nutrition and HIV/AIDS
July 2000 – July 2005
 The
nation of Zambia wished to overcome various development challenges
in its education system, but the complexities of the situation
were compounded by the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the
education system. USAID/Zambia turned to BEPS to develop an
integrated strategy. The resulting project, Communities Supporting
Health, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Gender, and Equity Education
in Schools (CHANGES) aims to sensitize and mobilize communities
to better access improved school health and nutrition. The
project also addresses girls’ and other vulnerable children’s
education to be able to face the serious challenges HIV/AIDS
poses to the well-being of their communities. The project
is a USAID/Zambia technical assistance program, which supports
the Zambia Ministry of Education in improving educational
access, and the quality and relevance of basic education by
improving health and nutrition and increasing community participation
in basic education.
School Health and Nutrition (SHN)
In Chadiza, Chama, and Chipata districts of
the Eastern Zambian province, student health is being enhanced
through the provision of Vitamin A and iron supplements and
deworming pills provided to students via trained teachers.
Additionally, teachers are receiving training in school health
and nutrition, and life skills, and communities are being
sensitized and mobilized through popular theatre, district
field teams, and public gatherings. Special attention is being
paid to the strengthening of relationships between health
centers and schools.
Community Sensitization and Mobilization Campaign
(CSMC)
In Kazungula, Kalomo, and Choma districts of
the Southern Province, popular theatre is facilitating community
participation in designing solutions to a number of issues
related to increasing girls’ and other vulnerable children’s
attendance and retention in school. District and community
action plans are being designed and implemented to resolve
community concerns through popular theatre and participatory
action research. Provincial and district government officials
are receiving training in community participation methodologies
related to gender equity; and teachers are being trained to
integrate life skills throughout their curriculum.
Mitigating the Effects of HIV/AIDS
The school health and nutrition, and community
sensitization and mobilization components of this project
heavily emphasize HIV/AIDS prevention and support. Sensitization
and training in HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation are integrated
into each of the project’s objectives.
Small Grants Provision
In collaboration with CARE International, small
grants are being provided to communities, local NGOs, parent-teacher
associations, and other local organizations to reinforce and
extend the work realized through each of the CHANGES program
components. During the second phase of the CHANGES project,
each of its components will be expanded at the district and
national level to include each of Zambia’s provinces.
The CHANGES project seeks to achieve targeted
goals, including improvement in the health of school-age children,
resulting in enhanced cognitive ability and achievement in
school; provision of targeted teacher training; and increased
enrollment and school retention rates of girls and other vulnerable
children.
Resources
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