The development of a holistic learning environment for out-of-school adolescents and young parents in Zambia

• In Event: 21st Century Knowledge and Skills Inclusion in Accelerated Education Models

Proposal

This presentation will highlight the process an NGO in Zambia took to address the holistic learning needs within rural communities in Zambia. Not only are there large numbers of out-of-school adolescents in Zambia, but many of them- particularly girls, are already mothers with young children. In response, an accelerated education program was developed offering these adolescents with a chance to catch-up on their foundational learning, ASRH, and financial literacy knowledge and skills. Additionally, those with young children aged 0-3 were engaged in parenting groups, and those with children aged 0-6 were engaged in savings groups so that their children not only developed a love for learning and reading from early on, but their parents were also supportive of their school enrollment on-time and were able to support schooling costs such as uniforms and school supplies. This panel will discuss how collaborations with the MoE and private donors made this possible. Specifically, this panel will also discuss how the use of technology fed into responsive monitoring and evaluation systems for adaptive management and collaboration.

Author

• Brian Phiri, CARE Zambia