Sponsor a Child in Zambia

Some facts about Zambia

The Republic of Zambia's total population is 13.8 million, of which roughly 50 per cent are under the age of 14.

While Zambia was once a thriving copper producing nation until gaining independence in 1964, it has now turned into an African poorhouse.

Zambia's colonial burden, political mismanagement and declining copper prices on the world market have been cited as the main reasons for the problems that the country has been facing.

Situation of the children in Zambia

Children in Zambia represent a highly vulnerable segment of population. They are frequently neglected by their families, abused or pushed into harsh forms of labour that may include illicit drug peddling and petty work. Young girls are often forced to engage in commercial sex work in order to raise income for their families.

Although the legislative framework that is to protect Zambian children exists and is well stipulated, reality has shown that violations of children's rights remain one of Zambia's biggest challenges.

The main causes for child rights violations in Zambia are disintegrated families, their socioeconomic situation and the inadequate execution of existing laws.

1,300,000 children in Zambia have lost either one or both of their parents.

For children without parental care and those at risk of losing it, access to education remains difficult. Without education, the vicious circle that many children and adolescents experience is likely to continue once they become adults.

Over recent years, a number of campaigns aiming to reduce maternal and infant mortality have been launched. Current figures show that some of these campaigns have turned out to be successful: maternal mortality decreased noticeably from 729 to 591 per 100,000 live births.

690,000 Zambian children have been orphaned due to AIDS, a disease which remains one of the country's most pressing public health concerns. In Zambia, an estimated 490,000 women are HIV-positive. To prevent the mother-to-child-transmission of HIV via rigorous testing procedures and treatment programmes has been a health-care priority in Zambia. However, every day, a high number of children are born with HIV. Many of them die before their second birthday if they don't receive adequate treatment.

In a number of African countries, including Zambia, children are frequently accused of witchcraft. The severity of punishments varies: while some of these children are abandoned by their families and friends, others are tortured or even murdered.