Doha, Qatar: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global foundation for education and development, with support from its strategic partner, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), and in partnership with World Vision Zambia, the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA), and Zambia’s Ministry of Education, has marked the successful completion of the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education (EVE) Project in Namwala District, Zambia.
Implemented over three years, the EVE Project strengthened equitable access to and retention in quality primary education for children at high risk of dropping out or being excluded from school.
The project addressed some of the most pressing barriers affecting vulnerable learners, including early marriage, poverty, child labour, long travel distances and poor learning environments, helping create more inclusive opportunities for children to learn and thrive.
The EVE project exceeded its original target of supporting 7,000 high-risk and most-at-risk learners across 37 schools, reaching 10,193 children, and achieving a 98 per cent survival rate. It also identified and re-enrolled 1,780 out of school children, enabling them to return to the classroom and continue their education.
To strengthen wellbeing and protection, the project established 37 SAFE Clubs, which provided life skills and psychosocial support to 5,748 learners while engaging 4,868 parents and caregivers in home-based learning support. In addition, 74 teachers were trained in gender-responsive and inclusive teaching practices, and 37 Stay-in-School Committees were equipped to identify, monitor and support children at risk of dropping out using a locally developed Student Risk Matrix.
Executive Director of EAA Foundation’s Educate A Child programme Dr Said Yasin, “The success of the EVE Project reminds us what is possible when commitment meets collaboration. Together with World Vision Zambia, FAWEZA, and the Ministry of Education, we have not only supported thousands of vulnerable children to remain in education, but we have also helped build a path forward that communities are now equipped to sustain.”
Head of African and Asian Projects at QFFD, Maryam Al Ghithani said: “Qatar Fund for Development is proud to have supported the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education Project, which has helped remove barriers preventing vulnerable children in Zambia from accessing and remaining in quality education.”
