Empowerment Initiative for Rural Women and Adolescents

Empowerment Initiative for Rural Women and Adolescents Embrace. Empower. Thrive: Empowering Rural Women and Adolescents for Inclusive Growth.

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? | FRIDAYWe’ve talked about where a young person might go when they need help.Now, what can we do to ...
04/09/2026

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? | FRIDAY

We’ve talked about where a young person might go when they need help.

Now, what can we do to make it easier for them to reach out?

1. Create safe spaces to talk.
Let young people know they can speak without immediately being judged, blamed or dismissed.

2. Listen before you respond.
Sometimes, the first thing someone needs is to know that they have been heard.

3. Know where to get help.
Families, friends, teachers, churches and communities can all play a role in connecting young people to appropriate support.

4. Check in.
A simple “How are you really doing?” can open the door to a conversation.

We don't have to have all the answers. We just need to make sure no young person feels they have to face difficult moments alone. We would like to see more spaces provide safety for young people.

What is ONE thing you can do today to make it easier for someone to ask for help?
***dePreventionAwarenessMonth

What happens when children are given the space to speak and, more importantly, when we truly listen?We had the opportuni...
03/09/2026

What happens when children are given the space to speak and, more importantly, when we truly listen?

We had the opportunity to attend a meeting organised by ZCEA under the Participation for Children’s Voices Matter Project. We were privileged to have been invited to learn and share our experiences.

The discussion focused on children’s rights, meaningful participation, and the importance of ensuring children’s voices are heard, respected, and acted upon. We explored barriers such as harmful cultural practices, abuse, discrimination, and fear of speaking out.

A key takeaway was that protecting children’s rights is everyone’s responsibility. When children speak, we must listen, take them seriously, and respond appropriately.

We also learned more about the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022 and its role in protecting children’s rights in Zambia.

An insightful and meaningful engagement that reminded us: children deserve not only a voice, but to be heard.

QUIZ WEDNESDAY | WHERE WOULD YOU GO FOR HELP?Imagine a young person is going through a difficult time and feels that the...
02/09/2026

QUIZ WEDNESDAY | WHERE WOULD YOU GO FOR HELP?

Imagine a young person is going through a difficult time and feels that they need someone to talk to.

Where would they be most likely to go for help? And why?

Tell us your choice and why.

Share your thoughts.....
***dePreventionAwarenessMonth

Hello September What happens when a topic is considered too sensitive to talk about but talking about it could help save...
01/09/2026

Hello September

What happens when a topic is considered too sensitive to talk about but talking about it could help save a life?

September invites us to have one of those difficult but necessary conversations: su***de prevention.

Across the world, the month is dedicated to raising awareness, challenging stigma and encouraging communities to recognise that prevention is possible.

Su***de is a serious public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young people. It is among the leading causes of death in this age group globally.

But this is more than a statistic.

It is about people. It is about families. It is about communities. And it is about what we can do differently.

This September, EIRWA will create space for conversations that help us understand su***de, challenge harmful beliefs and reflect on how our communities respond when someone is struggling.

Because sometimes, the most important step towards prevention is being willing to talk, listen and respond with compassion.

This month, let’s have the conversation.
***depreventionaawareness

THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION: UNDERSTANDING SU***DESu***de is a topic often surrounded by different beliefs, attitudes and b...
31/08/2026

THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION: UNDERSTANDING SU***DE

Su***de is a topic often surrounded by different beliefs, attitudes and behaviours in our communities. It can be difficult to talk about, but having open, compassionate conversations can help us understand, support one another and connect people to help.

📍 Some notes to help us understand:

• Su***de is death caused by harming oneself with the intent to die.

• A su***de attempt refers to self-harm with an intent to die where the person survives.

• Su***de is a serious public health concern that can have lasting effects on individuals, families and communities.

• There is no single cause of su***de. Different factors and circumstances can contribute to suicidal behaviour.

• Su***de can be prevented.

This week, we will explore this topic together.

As a community, let’s reflect:

👉 How do we respond when someone is going through a difficult time or may be at risk?

👉 Where can someone go to get help and support?

👉 How do we treat and support people who have attempted su***de?

👉 What can families, friends, community leaders, the church and service providers do differently?

Join the conversation this week. Your voice and experience can help us learn from one another.
***dePrevention

🌱 Friday | What Can We Do Now?As we reflect on this week’s conversation on Menstrual Hygiene Management, we are reminded...
28/08/2026

🌱 Friday | What Can We Do Now?

As we reflect on this week’s conversation on Menstrual Hygiene Management, we are reminded that creating a supportive environment for girls requires more than providing menstrual products.

So, what can we do now?

🩸 1. Talk openly about menstruation
Let us create more safe spaces for girls and boys to ask questions, share concerns and learn without shame or embarrassment.

👥 2. Involve men and boys
We encourage fathers, brothers, teachers and male community members to understand menstrual health and become supportive allies.

🏫 3. Make schools and communities more menstrual-friendly
Advocate for access to clean water, private sanitation facilities, appropriate disposal facilities and affordable menstrual products.

🧵 4. Explore sustainable solutions
Support our initiative to teach more girls the skill of reusable menstrual products making using safe, locally available materials.

🚫 5. Challenge stigma and harmful beliefs
Join us as we have more dialogues that question myths and social norms that restrict girls or make them feel ashamed because they are menstruating.

Now, we want to hear from YOU!

What is ONE thing you can do to make menstrual hygiene easier, more dignified and more accessible for girls in your community?

Share your idea in the comments. 👇🏾

Small actions. Shared responsibility. Greater impact.

27/08/2026

Thank you for participating in our quiz!

We’re always happy to hear from you, learn together, and keep the conversation going.

Take some time to look through the answers and see how you did.

Now, we want to hear from you!
What topic are you looking forward to exploring next?

Drop your suggestions in the comments. 👇🏽
Your voice helps us shape the conversations that matter to you!

Quiz WednesdayWe are back with another exciting edition. We  encourage you to participate by sharing your answers.
26/08/2026

Quiz Wednesday
We are back with another exciting edition. We encourage you to participate by sharing your answers.

Menstrual Hygiene Management: Supporting Girls to Stay in SchoolMenstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) remains an important ...
24/08/2026

Menstrual Hygiene Management: Supporting Girls to Stay in School

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) remains an important concern for adolescent girls, particularly in rural settings where access to menstrual products, information and appropriate facilities can be limited.

Access to menstrual hygiene products is only one part of the solution. We must also ensure that the environments in which girls learn and live have the infrastructure, information and support needed to protect their dignity and wellbeing.

Limited access to menstrual materials and appropriate facilities can create barriers to school attendance and participation, affecting girls’ learning experiences and overall wellbeing.

At EIRWA, we remain committed to creating safe spaces where girls can access accurate information about menstrual health and learn practical skills, including how to make alternative menstrual products using locally available resources.

Through these interventions, we have observed improvements in school attendance and greater confidence to participate and interact with others without feeling ashamed about menstruation among the girls in our programmes.

Menstruation should never be a barrier to education, confidence or opportunity.

Let’s create communities where every girl can manage her menstruation with dignity, confidence and the support she needs.

Friday: What Can We Do Now?As we reflect on this week’s topic — Parent Engagement.We are reminded that meaningful connec...
21/08/2026

Friday: What Can We Do Now?

As we reflect on this week’s topic — Parent Engagement.
We are reminded that meaningful connection with adolescents is built through intentional interactions.

Here are 3 simple ways parents and caregivers can strengthen engagement with adolescents:

📖 1. Share stories that carry a lesson
Sharing personal experiences can create opportunities to share wisdom and help adolescents navigate life.
👂 2. Listen without judgment
Sometimes adolescents need to feel heard before they are ready to receive advice.
💬 3. Give adolescents space to share their thoughts
Create room for them to express their opinions, ideas and concerns, even when their perspectives differ from yours.

But we want to hear from YOU! 👇🏾

What other ways can parents and caregivers meaningfully engage adolescents?
Share your ideas in the comments. Your experience could give another parent a new approach to try.

Let’s learn from one another and create stronger connections with the young people in our communities.

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