Three-year project implemented by People in Need in collaboration with non-governmental organizations Concern Worldwide Zambia and Young Women´s Christian Association (YWCA) is located in the region of Mongu in the Western Province. It is an agricultural area with high HIV and AIDS prevalence (22%). The official number of orphans and other vulnerable children (orphaned and vulnerable children - OVC) in the region is 28 thousand. The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of orphans and other vulnerable children and their families in Mongu. The project will help 500 OVC whose families cannot afford to pay for education. The project will improve access to education for OVC, improve the economic situation of families by supporting small businesses, offer psychosocial support to OVC and their guardians and launch an awareness campaigns on radio and in schools to create a more favorable atmosphere for OVC in the community.

Activities completed last year include for example support for OVC regarding the school fees, uniforms, providing business skills training for families/guardians of OVC accompanied by possibility to receive capital for their businesses and training for OVC about their rights and basic life skills. The project is monitored on regular basis by the Czech Development Agency. The last monitoring was conducted in October 2012. At the same time an internal evaluation revealed findings confirming that project activities had significantly contributed to the reduction of vulnerability of OVC and their families, reduction of stigmatization of OVC, increase of HIV/AIDS awareness and improvement of the standard of living of most families.