22/06/2026
In many communities across Luapula Province, the joy of childhood is too often interrupted by adolescent pregnancy and child marriage. For Fr. Evans Kabamba of Nchelenge, the reality hit close to home.
"This project has come at the right time. Just a few days ago, my wife shared a serious concern about the high number of adolescent pregnancies her health facility is handling. I was equally troubled when I heard this. But see how God answers prayers,barely a few days later, MedRAP Zambia Interfaith Networking Group - zingo Platform and Unicef Zambia arrived with the ECM/AP project. My fellow faith leaders, adolescent pregnancy and child marriage are a crisis in this community. It is our commitment that we will apply what we have learned in the last two days in our congregations to help reduce this problem in Nchelenge."
His words capture the urgency and hope that filled the 2-day Faith Leaders Training of Trainers and Cascading workshops held across Nchelenge, Mwansabombwe, Chienge, Kawambwa, and Chifunabuli districts.
Faith leaders from the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, Council of Churches in Zambia, Independent Churches of Zambia, and the Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia came together with one shared purpose, protecting children and ending child marriage and adolescent pregnancy.
Beyond learning about child safeguarding and referral pathways, participants made a commitment to use their churches, mosques, and existing community platforms to spread life-changing messages and support vulnerable children and families.
Father Mwila of Chifunabuli echoed this collective resolve:
"We will endeavor to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, this problem in our communities. Child marriage and adolescent pregnancy are not doctrinal issues. All of us trained in this room are challenged to work together as a community. We commend MedRAP, UNICEF, and ZINGO for this well-coordinated workshop and commit to using the materials shared to raise awareness on the adverse effects of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy."
MedRAP and Zambia Interfaith Networking Group Organization (ZINGO) with support from UNICEF and funding from the European Union successfully conducted faith leaders trainer of trainers and cascading workshop in Nchelenge, Mwansabombwe, Chienge, Kawambwa and Chifunabuli.
Through partnership, compassion, and collective action, Luapula Province is strengthening its commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.