WHERE: Chongwe, Luangwa, Lusaka and Kafue, Lusaka Province; Chingola and Chililabombwe, Copperbelt Province: and Mongu, Western Province.
WHAT: DREAMS was a partnership to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) by helping them overcome the challenges and stay in school. The project supported and encouraged girls from low-resourced communities during at key school dropout periods.
AGYW are disproportionately affected by HIV, as social and cultural norms diminish their decision-making autonomy, affecting their physical and emotional health and raising their risk for infection. To counteract this, 15 DREAMS centres were created as drop-in “safe spaces,” where cohorts of girls were mentored in life skills following an evidence-informed curriculum. Adolescent girls were encouraged to test for HIV and counselled on the risk of HIV infection and prevention techniques.
The DREAMS project promoted the importance of education within entire school communities (girls, boys, teachers, parents, community leaders). At the same time, it worked to make schools more girl friendly and gender-equitable, with better latrines and sanitary conditions. The project helped cover the cost of school fees and learning materials and championed pervasive, pro-girl attitudes promoting school attendance and empowering girls to resist gender-based violence. Further, the project advocated for the private sector’s expansion of scholarships for project participants.
