A strong start in life can shape a child’s entire learning journey. Yet in #Zambia, fewer than 35% of children entering Grade 1 have experienced formal pre-primary education, according to @UnicefZambia—highlighting the importance of supporting children’s development before school and throughout the early primary years. Play-based learning helps build that foundation. Through art, native games and hands-on exploration, children develop language, creativity, social skills and confidence. These opportunities remain valuable as children move into primary school, helping them participate actively and find joy in learning. At the African Education Program’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, Zambia, that approach comes to life under the shade of a mango tree. Here, Chanda, Amos Youth Centre’s Young Learners Program Coordinator and teacher, leads Grade 3 and 4 students in an outdoor art activity, encouraging them to explore ideas and express themselves. Through the Young Learners Program, more than 400 girls and boys have a nurturing space to strengthen foundational skills, build friendships and grow as confident learners. Investing in these early years helps children build the skills they will carry into every classroom—and throughout their lives. #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay #YoungLearners #AfricanEducationProgram

Growing food. Nourishing children. Changing lives. 🌱 Thanks to @Kia_MEA and The Waste Lab for helping bring our Urban Farming & Permaculture Learning Space to life at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre. Your partnership has helped turn a shared vision into a thriving space where children and young people learn to grow food, care for the environment, and build skills they can share with their families and communities. The impact reaches straight to the table. Vegetables harvested from the garden support our Nutrition Program, which serves more than 350 meals every day—helping children get the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we celebrate the partnerships that make community-led solutions possible. To Kia Middle East & Africa and The Waste Lab: thank you for helping grow lasting opportunities, one harvest and one meal at a time. #AfricanEducationProgram #Kia #TheWasteLab #CommunityLedChange #InternationalDayForTheEradicationOfPoverty

Partnerships help turn a shared commitment to inclusion into practical support for children and young people with disabilities. AEP’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre, in partnership with Kyaro Assistive Tech from Tanzania, hosted a one-day workshop on appropriate wheelchair use, bringing together stakeholders from Lusaka and Kafue to strengthen understanding of wheelchair fitting, safety and user comfort. The workshop brought together representatives from Kafue General Hospital, Dica Care, Apters Zambia, Beit Cure Childrens Hospital Zambia, the District Education Board and Social Welfare, creating an opportunity for organizations working with persons with disabilities to share knowledge and explore ways to work together. #AssistiveTechnology #DisabilityInclusion #Wheelchair #Partnerships #InclusiveCommunities

A partnership with @StreetBizSchool helped lay the foundation for the Women’s Business Training at AEP’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, locally known as the Amos Youth Centre. Launched in 2021 in response to the economic challenges of COVID-19, the program helps women build the skills and confidence to strengthen their livelihoods and support their families. Today, we are celebrating 39 graduates from the 13th cohort bringing our total to 362 women graduates! 🎉 Through four months of training and coaching, women learn practical skills in money management, record-keeping, marketing and business planning. Delivered in the local language and adapted to different literacy levels, the program supports women in growing an existing business or turning a new idea into reality. A special thanks to @RubisZambia, whose generous partnership has supported three cohorts, including this latest group. For AEP, supporting women’s economic independence is part of helping children, families and communities thrive. Each graduate carries forward new knowledge, greater confidence and tools to shape her own future. Congratulations to all 39 women! We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you and excited to see what you build next. #WomenInBusiness #WomensEmpowerment #AfricanEducationProgram #CommunityLedChange

How does becoming a mother change the way you lead? For AEP Co-Founder and Executive Director Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, returning from #maternityleave means carrying a new perspective into a mission she has devoted her life to. In her latest blog, Julie-Anne shares a personal reflection on #motherhood, #leadership, and coming back to work—with the same mission and a bigger tomorrow. 💛 Read her story on our latest Medium blog → bit.ly/4hVQjQ1

Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, and shape her own future. 💛 The African Education Program joins the global community in marking International Day of the Girl under this year’s theme: “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.” At our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), the Peer-to-Peer Education & Mentoring Program takes the lead in delivering lessons on girls’ rights and the importance of ending child marriage. The need is urgent. @UNICEF's 2024 Zambia report states that 29% of women ages 20–24 were married before their 18th birthday, including 5% who were married before age 15. Through these lessons, peer educators explored how child marriage can interrupt education, increase the risk of early and unintended pregnancy, limit girls’ ability to make decisions about their lives, and perpetuate poverty and gender inequality. By equipping young people with knowledge and the confidence to speak up, we help them become advocates for their own rights and for one another. When we invest in girls’ education, health, and leadership, the benefits reach entire communities. #InternationalDayOfTheGirl #EndChildMarriage #GirlsRights #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre

Supporting mental health means caring for everyone who makes learning and growth possible—children, youth, families, and the staff who walk alongside them. This #WorldMentalHealth Day, October 10, the African Education Program recognizes mental well-being as an essential part of our holistic approach at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC). Each week, AYC’s Programme Team facilitates mental health classes tailored to children’s ages and needs. Our work also extends to mothers and guardians, creating spaces to share experiences and explore ways to care for their own well-being while supporting their children. The mental health of our staff matters, too. Their work requires patience, compassion, and energy. Recognizing their needs and supporting their well-being helps sustain both our team and the care they provide. We are grateful to partners such as @SuperBetter and Foundation for Family and Community Healing for helping us continue to make mental health a priority. When we care for the people who learn, the families who nurture them, and the educators who guide them, we strengthen the whole community. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre

Great learning experiences begin with educators who are supported to keep learning, too. Three team members from AEP’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), recently participated in the American International School of Lusaka - AISL JUMP! Impact Fund Facilitator Training: Clement Mwanza, Academics & Scholarships Manager; Chanda Kashina, Young Learners Coordinator; and Annie Nyambe, Special Education Assistant Teacher. The full-day workshop explored practical ways to make learning more engaging and meaningful, from thoughtful planning and clear communication to strategies for managing large classes. Participants also explored play-based learning and how internal and external motivation shape young people’s participation. For educators supporting learners with diverse needs, opportunities to learn, reflect, and exchange ideas help strengthen what happens in the classroom every day. At the African Education Program, investing in local educators is part of investing in young people’s futures. We are grateful for opportunities that help the AYC team grow their skills, spark curiosity, and support every learner’s potential. Thank you, AISL!! #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre #EducatorDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment

Three decades of experience. New tools to grow. Congratulations, Leah! 🎉 For more than 30 years, Leah has run her business using knowledge shared by friends, family, and her community. Now, she is building on that experience as a graduate of the 13th cohort of the Women’s Business Training at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre. Through formal training in record-keeping, budgeting, and tracking sales and profits, Leah has gained practical tools to better understand her finances and plan for her business’s future. At the African Education Program, we believe investing in women entrepreneurs strengthens families and communities. We are proud to celebrate Leah and her fellow graduates as they put their skills to work! #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomensEmpowerment

Today, we celebrate the educators who help young people learn, grow, and discover what they can achieve, including the young teachers in training at the African Education Program’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC). Meet Ignitious, an AYC alumnus, facilitator intern, and student teacher who is spending his gap year teaching Mathematics and Science to junior and senior secondary students before heading to college. Having benefited from these same classes, he is now giving back and helping other students build their knowledge and confidence. His journey shows how investing in one young person’s education can create opportunities for many more. A special shoutout to Ignitious and all of AYC’s young teachers in training! Your dedication, energy, and care make this work possible. As you prepare for your own futures, you are already helping shape the futures of others. Happy Teachers’ Day! #WorldTeachersDay #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre #YouthLeadership #EducationChangesLives

🎓 We love sharing stories about our alumni and today, we celebrate Precious! Precious first walked through the doors of our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, #Zambia, in 2017, when she was still a secondary school student. Nearly a decade later, she has graduated from Natural Resources Development College with a Diploma in Water Engineering! Her achievement means so much. Precious is stepping into a field where women are still too rarely seen, and she is the first person in her family to earn a college qualification. Every time a young woman like Precious takes her place in engineering, she shows the girls coming up behind her what's possible. Precious is now one of over 130 alumni who have graduated from college and university. Each of them represents years of hard work, determination, and a community that believed in them. Precious, we are so proud of you and honored to have been part of your journey. Congratulations, and every success as you begin this exciting new chapter! 💙 Help the next Precious reach graduation day. Our College Scholarship Fund helps Zambian students cover tuition and the other costs that can stand between a talented young person and a diploma. For many of our students, this support makes the difference between dreaming about college and walking across the stage. If Precious's story inspires you, please consider making a gift to the College Scholarship Fund. Every contribution, large or small, helps open the door for another young person to break new ground. 👉 Donate here: africaneducationprogram.org/… Thank you for being part of this journey with us. #Alumni #CollegeScholarshipFund #WomenInEngineering #FirstGenGraduate #AfricanEducationProgram

At the African Education Program, we believe every young person deserves the chance to learn, grow, and shape their future. That belief guides the #holistic programming at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), in Kafue, #Zambia and it extends to students with #disabilities through the Read for Rose Special Education Program. Today, we are celebrating a remarkable #milestone: Precious and Goodson are preparing to finish Grade 12, becoming the first Read for Rose students to reach this stage of their education. Their achievement belongs first to them. It also reflects years of support from their families, teachers, and the AYC team, who have helped them build communication skills, confidence, and opportunities to keep learning. It is a powerful testament to what sustained, individualized support can make possible. Through Read for Rose, AYC is helping advance inclusive education in Kafue so that children with disabilities are seen, supported, and given the opportunity to pursue their goals. Read Precious and Goodson’s story on AYC's Letters blog: bit.ly/4xNV4RF

At the African Education Program, we believe unlocking potential starts from the inside out. That's why emotional well-being is woven into every program at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center in Kafue, Zambia — the Amos Youth Centre (AYC)! Recently, Rebecca Tembo, AYC's Project Coordinator, led a mental health session with students in the Read for Rose Special Education Program. Together, they explored their "inside" and "outside" emotions: what we feel within, and how we express those feelings to the world around us. Sessions like this help students recognize and name their emotions, build confidence in sharing them, and understand that caring for our mental health matters for everyone. Read for Rose serves 41 children with disabilities, and each one has an individualized learning plan built around their unique abilities. Safe spaces where students feel seen and heard are as essential to that plan as reading, writing, and sign language. This is how we nurture changemakers. 💛 $900 provides one year of learning for a Read for Rose student, including sessions like this one. Support a student today: africaneducationprogram.org/… #MentalHealthMatters #InclusiveEducation #EducationForAll #ReadForRose #CommunityLedChange #Zambia

The African Education Program attended the UNGA side event, "Friends of Zambia" hosted by the Chandler Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations in New York City last evening. A big thank you to Board Members, Marcia Small, Cecilia Milambo and Dr. Marie-Odile Savarit (photo 1). Special introductions were made to the Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Zambia (photo 2). The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is where all UN Member States come together to discuss global challenges and agree on shared priorities. Every country has a voice and one vote. The Assembly addresses issues such as peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development, and it can adopt resolutions that express the collective position of its members. #Zambia

Inclusive education is at the heart of what we do. Through our flagship Learning & Leadership Center, the Amos Youth Centre, we work alongside local leaders in Kafue #Zambia to make sure learners with disabilities have the support they need to access education, participate fully in the classroom, and lead in their communities. We are very proud of how far Febby Choombe, the Director of Special Education, has grown the Read for Rose Special Education Program. So inspiring to watch her work every day! #InternationalDayOfSignLanguages #InclusiveEducation

In community development, we talk a lot about impact on the people we serve. We talk far less about the people doing the serving. At our flagship Learning & Leadership Center, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) in Kafue, Zambia, the team works every day alongside children, youth, and women. Many of them are alumni of the Center, now leading the programs that shaped them. Their well-being isn't a side issue. It's central to the work. That's why AYC has built staff mental health into how the organization operates: → Mental health leave days → Access to a team of trained staff counselors → Regular supervisor check-ins and open communication → Mental health training, including practical tools for managing pressure → Quarterly team-building to strengthen trust and connection The results show up in how staff talk about their work. One team member put it plainly: "Without [good mental health], the goals cannot be achieved." For Ignitious, a Facilitator Intern with AYC's youth clubs, the shift was personal: "I came to know that my mental health matters." What stands out most is that AYC treats well-being as a shared responsibility, not just a management function. Colleagues check in on each other, communicate openly, and practice kindness. The staff themselves are shaping what comes next, asking for more regular training and coaching. For organizations committed to locally-led development, this is a lesson worth sharing: sustainable impact depends on sustainable teams. When we take care of the people who care, we strengthen everything they build. Read the full story by Annabell Mumba, AYC's Donor Relations Coordinator and a College Scholarship Fund alum: amosyouthcentre.org/blog/202… How is your organization investing in the people behind the work? We'd love to hear. #WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealthMatters #LocallyLed #CommunityLedDevelopment #NonprofitLeadership #Zambia

At the African Education Program, we know that building confidence is essential to empowering girls to shape their own futures. Girls who participated in the Reproductive Health Access Initiative at our flagship Learning & Leadership Center, the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) in Kafue, #Zambia, demonstrated an 11% increase in self-belief. This growth matters. When girls have confidence in themselves, they are better equipped to ask questions, make informed decisions, advocate for their needs, and pursue their educational and personal goals. Through reproductive and menstrual health education, AYC creates safe spaces where girls can gain knowledge, speak openly, and recognize their ability to influence the direction of their lives. For AEP, reproductive health education is about more than sharing information. It is about helping girls develop the confidence and agency to put that knowledge into action. #GirlsEmpowerment #ReproductiveHealth #YouthDevelopment #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre

At the African Education Program, we believe that lasting change begins by investing in local leaders, supporting them as they grow professionally, pursue their own goals, and use their knowledge to strengthen their communities. Christine Mulenga embodies that vision. An Amos Youth Centre (AYC) alumna and AYC’s Extracurricular Programs Manager, Christine is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Development. As part of her studies, she is completing a fieldwork attachment in Mwansokola Village in Chikupi, approximately 11 miles from where our flagship Learning & Leadership Center is located in Kafue, #Zambia. Christine has been meeting with traditional leaders, visiting schools, conducting door-to-door outreach, and engaging with local police and health clinics to better understand the community’s needs. These conversations have led to a proposal for an adolescent and youth club that would bring together peer educators, teacher patrons, and health center staff to address challenges such as teenage pregnancy and alcohol and substance abuse. This is what it means to build into a local team and then watch those individuals continue building into themselves and others. When local leaders are given opportunities to learn, grow, and lead, their impact extends far beyond the walls of AYC. Well done, Christine! We are incredibly proud to see you carrying your passion for service into another community and creating opportunities for young people to thrive. #AfricanEducationProgram #AmosYouthCentre #LocalLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment #AYCAlumni