Bringing communities of Kafue, Zambia
closer to their dreams through
community-led change.

In August 2006, African Education Program volunteers, alongside Kafue community leaders and youth members, opened the flagship Learning & Leadership Center, locally named Amos Youth Centre.

Why Zambia.

  • Almost half of Zambians live in extreme poverty and 66% of Zambia's population is under the age of 25. 59.4% of children live in poor households. With one of the highest child marriage rates in the world, 30% of girls will become pregnant before the age of 18.

  • The number of children passing their Grade 9 and Grade 12 exams continues to be low, at 55.3% and 64.8% respectively. Only 5% and 2% of 15-year-old students meet minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics respectively. Transition rates from primary to secondary school continue to remain low at 67.5% mainly due to the lack of schools to accommodate all primary school graduates. If the country continues on this path, Zambia will likely fall short of SDG Goal 4.

  • Children with special needs in Zambia are incredibly marginalized. They face the greatest development challenges due to stigma and limited resources. They have little or no access to the critical care, facilities, and support that they need to thrive. Most of them will never access a school room during their lifetime.

  • Malnutrition continues to be an underlying cause of children’s deaths with little change to stunting levels over the last few decades; 35% of children are considered stunted. Zambia’s general population has an estimated HIV prevalence of 11.1%, with women carrying a higher burden at 14.2%. Health issues are worse in rural areas and among the poor.

Today, the Learning & Leadership Center is a community-led, youth-driven organization.

The Center creates quality and inclusive learning, health, entrepreneurship, and leadership development opportunities for promising Zambian youth and women so they can transform their communities.

What makes the Learning & Leadership Center unique.

Icon: Symbol for environment.

Environment at the center

We create an environment where children and youth can dream big, reach their full potential, and become the changemakers their communities deserve.

Icon: Child in baseball cap and bookbag.

Depth of investment in a child

We commit to a decade+ long investment in a child, starting as early as the age of 5, and create learning and leadership development opportunities past college.

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Alumni-driven organization

Today, 11 of the 16 full-time Zambian team members are alumni. Together, they are spearheading community change through our diverse programs.

Febby Choombe, Special Education Advisor and the Director of Special Education at the Amos Youth Centre in Kafue, Zambia works with a young woman who smiles.

Meaningful connections every day at the Learning & Leadership Center.

  • Young Learners (age 5-10) access play-based learning activities.

  • 7th to 12th graders have quality academic support and holistic programs including health & wellbeing, leadership development, and art & creativity.

  • The Read for Rose Special Education Program creates individualized learning plans for each child/youth. 

  • A mother accesses a custom-designed, 4-month training program to learn how to start a business or boost the one she already has.

  • A College Prep student accesses a custom curriculum, career and school choice guidance, and gives back to the center.

  • College Scholarships cover tuition, room, and board. Students continue to give back at the center during their holidays.

Programs at the Learning & Leadership Center.

  • Two girls laugh during their Young Learners lesson.

    Young Learners Program

    Young learners (ages 5 to 10) have access to daily sessions including basic literacy, math, science, art and team building. Play-based learning and native games are incorporated as much as possible. This is Amos Youth Centre’s newest and fastest growing program in Kafue.

  • Young women and men learn at a computer during a lesson.

    Quality High School Tutoring

    Daily tutoring sessions in all major subjects for 7th to 12th graders improves academic success. In addition to trained teachers, high school graduates in the College Prep Program waiting to go to college volunteer by helping to tutor younger students.

  • A group of College Prep students pose for a photo.

    College Prep Program

    During their gap year, high school graduates have preparatory classes focused on career guidance and college choices, academic writing, note taking, budgeting, study habits, healthy relationships, and other needed life-skills. They also mentor their younger peers through various activities.

  • Febby Choombe, Special Education Advisor and the Director of Special Education at the Amos Youth Centre in Kafue, Zambia shows a notebook to a student in a wheelchair.

    Special Education Program

    Girls and boys with disabilities in our Read for Rose Special Education Program learn the communication and life skills they need to live fulfilled lives while advocating for the changes needed in society so that they have equal access to education and economic empowerment.

  • Young women and men stand in a circle with interlacing hands behind their backs.

    Leadership Development

    Leadership development is woven into all programming. The annual Lifeskill & Leadership Camp focuses on leadership skills and team building. The Leadership & Community Service Club promotes regular skills development and service within the local community.

  • A group of boys and girls pose for a photo and smile.

    Gender Equity

    There is a strong focus on empowering the young women and men through programs focused on equality between boys and girls and women and men as partners, reproductive and health rights, and elimination of gender discrimination and violence.

  • A young woman holds up a reusable menstrual pad and a menstrual cup.

    Health & Wellbeing

    Weekly clubs focus on reproductive and menstrual health, pregnancy prevention, ending HIV stigma, emotional health, self-esteem building, and gender-based violence. All young women receive menstrual health training and a pack of reusable pads and a menstrual cup.

  • Two boys enjoy lunch.

    Nutrition

    To mitigate hunger, daily meals are served to the most undernourished youth. Each day, over 250 youth currently enjoy Nshima or rice and sides of chicken, beans, soya pieces or dried fish with vegetables. Youth tend community gardens that contribute fresh vegetables to this program.

  • A group of mothers pose holding up their graduation caps.

    Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy

    Youth and parents gain knowledge, skills, resources and long-term coaching about starting a new small business or enhancing a current business, financial literacy and planning skills, and entrepreneurial mindset development. Graduates are introduced to savings circles and microloans.

  • A young man shows an abstract painting.

    The Arts & Creativity

    Art Club, Music Club, Drama Club, Culture Club, Dance Club, Creative Club, and Storytelling Club take place weekly promoting new artistic opportunities for personal growth, self-expression, and self-esteem building. These activities unleash the creative potential of Zambia’s youth.

  • A hut with a thatched roof.

    Rural Outreach Program

    The Rural Outreach Program provides the most marginalized girls and boys from the fishing village of Chanyanya access to high school and AYC’s after-school programs. Located about 16 miles from Kafue on the river, education ends in Chanyanya after the 9th grade due to lack of schools.

Visit the Amos Youth Centre website to dive deeper.