Document Type

Fact Sheet

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

For Zambian girls, social isolation, economic vulnerability, and lack of appropriate health information and services are critical problems that prevent a healthy transition from girlhood to womanhood. The challenges that girls are confronted with—high rates of gender-based violence, unsafe sex that puts girls at risk for unwanted pregnancy and HIV infection, school dropout, lack of economic resources and income-generating options, lack of agency and participation—are linked together through their root causes. Therefore, the solutions must be interconnected as well. Through the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP), the Population Council and partners are implementing a social, health, and economic asset-building program for vulnerable adolescent girls in Zambia. The AGEP intervention has been rolled out in the program’s 10 sites, contained in four provinces: Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt, and Northwestern. Over 10,000 girls are currently enrolled in the program and are meeting in their weekly safe spaces groups. Over 2,100 savings accounts have been opened and more than 4,300 health vouchers distributed.

DOI

10.31899/pgy9.1052

Language

English

Project

Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program; GIRL Center

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