Umoyo Training Centre, Lusaka, Zambia

Umoyo Training Centre started as a pilot project in November 1996 with 17 girls. Orphan girls chosen by their communities (by elders, local political leaders, or at a community meeting) take part in the program. They are first given councelling to help them deal with their grief and sense of loss. Later, the girls are empowered with strong academic training. They also learn about independent sexuality and reproductive health. Over two hundred and fourty (240) girls will have been trained by July 2004. Over 85% graduate and over 80% of the girls who graduate engage in further training, employment or runing small businesses.

The key component of the strategy is "learning by doing" in terms of training and methodology. All the youth are actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the centre to learn specific skills and to ensure that the centre runs smoothly. The methodology underlying the activities and forms of organization has been designed to give youth as much authority as possible for planning, organization and implementation. This method is intended to encourage self-confidence, responsibility, initiative and accountability for the success of activities.

The Residential Program is designed in such a way that the girls are in-touch with the community and their guardians as much as possible. The girls go home every month. This gives them a chance to compare what is happening in the community with what they learn at the Centre, it also makes the girls feel part of the community.

For each girl that comes to the Umoyo Training Centre, there are on average another five children at home. Graduates who are empowered and able to start work, take their young brothers and sisters back to school, and they, themselves are able to start work.

Over 80 percent of the girls that have graduated are engaged in one activity or the other (further training, employment and running small businesses).

The Umoyo Training Centre enables girls to compete in the economy, encouraging them to furthere their education or to start their own business. This improves their coping skills and, in turn, results in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

- Source (pictures and text) The Stephen Lewis Foundation