Girl Power
29%
of girls aged 15-19 years in Zambia are pregnant or have already delivered a baby
UNICEF, 2021
From the moment they’re born, girls and boys in our community face different, often unequal, expectations and access to resources and opportunities — in their homes, schools, future workplaces, and society.
Gender in Zambia: The Facts
Women and girls bear the brunt of high poverty rates in Zambia. Women marry at a younger age than men, complete less schooling, and have lower participation in the labor force. Girls' right to an education is often undermined by early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and responsibilities as caretakers at home, all of which are exacerbated by poverty.
In recent years, Zambia has made significant progress in enrolling more girls in primary school. Unfortunately, girls still have lower completion rates in primary school and secondary school than boys (World Bank Group, 2023). This has a negative effect on their self-esteem, confidence, and knowledge, making it harder for girls to find employment later in life. Access to a quality education is a crucial part of empowering women to shape their own futures.
44%
18%
44% of women are illiterate, compared to 18% of men. Less emphasis is placed on women's education from a young age.
72.8%
56.3%
As of 2020, 72.8% of women do not participate in the workforce, compared to 56.3% of men. During the pandemic, job losses were higher among women.
47%
33%
Many women have internalized and normalized notions of violence against them: 47% of women and 33% men agree that a husband is justified in beating his wife.
19.1
24.4
The median age of marriage among women is 19.1, compared to a median age of 24.4 among men.
All statistics are taken from the World Bank Group's 2023 Zambia Gender Assessment.
Why is it important to educate girls?
An educated girl has the power to create a healthier, happier and more prosperous future—for herself and for her community. An education gives her the knowledge, skills, and confidence to create a future she wants to live in. If she chooses to have a family, she will pass these lessons on to her children. When you educate a girl, you educate a community—and that is how the hope for change is sown.
Our Impact
Baobuyu’s Girl Power program provides a safe place for girls ages 12-18 to learn about themselves and get out of their comfort zones. The group gathers on a weekly basis for an afternoon of fun, laughter, and insight into crucial topics like menstruation and self-awareness. In the past, we have held sessions on puberty, healthy living, safe relationships, and social issues affecting the Mwandi community. These workshops empower the girls with the knowledge and strength to make their own decisions. Perhaps most importantly, Girl Power is an opportunity for the girls to be themselves. It is a safe place for our girls to ask questions, share their concerns, and create lasting friendships.
Our hope is that the group will sow the seeds of change over time. Encouraging the girls to raise and take ownership of their voices is the first step. Ultimately, we hope that as they become young women, they see in themselves what we see in them: a group of kind, strong-willed individuals who can write their own narrative.
"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."
-Michelle Obama
"My name is Joy and I come to Girl Power to learn about myself. Girl Power helps me to learn how to cook, dance, write and draw. Without Girl Power, I would just be home doing chores."
Joy, Member of Girl Power