Projects

PROJECTS

Kusamala III

WHERE: Kanyama, Chawama and Misisi in Lusaka, Lusaka Province and Makululu in Kabwe, Central Province.
WHY: In Zambia there is a problem of children who have been abandoned, orphaned, or left vulnerable due to severe poverty and AIDS deaths. This causes children at risk of separation and children that have already been separated from their families. The children are faced with significant challenges including child neglect, child abuse, violence, teen pregnancies, early marriages, gender-based violence (GBV), and poverty; all of which made homes unstable, unsafe, and not conducive for them to stay in. Hence, there is a need to protect and nurture children by preventing family separation, and reunifying families.
FUNDING PARTNER: GHR Foundation
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Makululu Home Based Care; St. Cathrine’s University; SPOON Foundation; Department of Social Welfare; and TEVETA.
2022-2026
WHAT: In 2015 A2HealthZ had their first Kusamala Children in Families (CIF) project. In 2019, The second Kusamala CIF project began as a continuation, with focus on children with disabilities (CWDs). In 2022, we began Kusamala III to further tackle the problem of family separation that occurs when young children leave or are pushed out of their home (or are at risk of being pushed out). The project keeps children in their families by giving communities the skills to support households in crisis. This work is complemented by collaboration with local and national government to ensure that child protection policies are in place, understood, and actively implemented by relevant office holders. We work together so that fewer children end up on the streets or in institutions, and so that those who do receive the support they need to reunite with their families. Kusamala III also protects and nurtures CWDs through nutrition and feeding trainings, play therapy, sensitization in the communities, and the delivery of community-based social and family support services. The goal is to see children of all ages and abilities living within safe families and communities that are committed to promoting their health and wellbeing.
OBJECTIVES:
• Increase family and community ability to keep children in families
• Increase health facility and social welfare capacities to prevent family separation and provide childcare support services
• Increase number of children reintegrated into families and communities
• Strengthen capacity and coordination of formal and informal government structures at district and community levels to promote family-based care