Training for Chongwe Basic School Mentors

CAMFED in conjunction with TAAAC under the Safe Spaces Cluster organized the Chongwe Basic School Safe Spaces mentor's training.  Participants comprised of 6 Student Mentors who were all grade 9 pupils from Chongwe Basic School, 2 Chongwe Basic School Teacher Mentors, 8 Mother Mentors, and 3 Cama Mentors.  Facilitators included Mrs. Hope Kasese Khumalo from WLSA, Mrs. Shupe Makashinyi, the Project Coordinator, Mrs. Nancy Mukupa from Population Council, Ms. Stephanie Musenge, a private resource person, Ms. Regina Lialabi, CAMFED Senior Program Officer and Ms. Pamela Mwiinga Hamweemba, CAMFED Programs Manager, Young Women Empowerment.  The training took place from September 17-19.

The objective of the training was to introduce the Safe Space Curriculum to mentors who were expected to implement the Safe Space Coalition interventions targeting 100 girls at Chongwe Basic School.  The activity was sponsored by the UN Trust Fund through Equality Now.

Training topics included: human rights, relationships, reproductive health and contraceptives, life skills, HIV/AIDS and STI's, gender, financial education, and substance abuse.  They also went over policies and how to use the printed forms in the packets presented.  There was a time for questions to be answered at the end of the training and then participants evaluated the training.

Student mentors in a Reproductive Health session facilitated by Ms. Pamela M. Hamweemba from CAMFED.

Mrs. Shupe Makashinyi explaining a point to student mentors.

Mrs. Shupe Makashinyi facilitating a session on Relationships.

Five mentors are given a chance to explain their point of view.

Mrs. Hope Kasese Khumalo from WLSA, facilitating a sesion in Human Rights.

On her right are mentor students listening attentively.

Establishment of Boys Network at Kamulanga High School

Kamulanga High School is located approximately 8 km south of Lusaka.  It is one of the safe schools where Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) is working with the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) under the TAAAC. ZNWL has been in contact with Kamulanga High School, aiming to introduce the Boys Network.

In the last quarter, the identification process of the Boys Network members could not take place because the students were writing exams.  ZNWL has finally been able to establish the Boys Network at the school.  The school has identified Mr. Longwa Kalombo as the network patron.  The Boys Network selected an executive committee of seven members using a democratic approach.  The Boys Network members determined on their own about the postitions (i.e. whether there should be a club chairperson or club president and the rest of the positions).  They settled for a President, Vice President, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurerer, and three committee members.

Nelson (ZNWL) addressing the Boys at Kamulanga High School

A training programme for the boys is being planned, but the training site is yet to be identified.  There are three options for the training sites: Kasaka Camp in Kafue, Mount Eugenia near the Zambia Air Force Base in Lusaka West, and Fringila in Chisamba. Any suggestions from the coalition members are welcome.

Girls training at YWCA

The Safe Spaces Program held a training during the second week of September.  Ten girl students from Kamwala High School were trained at the Lusaka YWCA.