Sustaining and Improving the Gains for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis GC7 ZMB-C Supported by the Global Fund through CHAZ.

The S.I.G.H.T Project continues to make strategic strides in strengthening community health systems and legal empowerment across Southern Province. With support from the Global Fund through CHAZ, recent activities in Kazungula and Choma Districts have demonstrated the project’s commitment to advancing justice, combating gender-based violence (GBV), and improving access to HIV/AIDS and TB services.

Kazungula District Gains 34 New Paralegals

In a landmark achievement, 34 young individuals completed a rigorous 21-day paralegal training program held from June 2–22, 2025, at Woodlands Lodge in Livingstone. Facilitated by the Paralegal Alliance Network (PAN), the training equipped Peer Educators with essential legal knowledge to support community justice efforts.

Most of the newly trained paralegals will be stationed at local health facilities, where they will provide critical support in addressing GBV and navigating legal processes for survivors. This initiative, led by The Youth Platform (TYP360) in partnership with CHAZ, marks a significant step toward grassroots legal empowerment and survivor-centered care.

Stakeholder Meeting Held in Choma District

On June 24, 2025, a stakeholder meeting was convened at Meridian Lodge in Choma to review the S.I.G.H.T Project’s progress and address implementation challenges. Key issues discussed included:

• Low uptake of PrEP among adolescents and young people
• Gaps in condom and lubricant distribution
• Limited access to health services for learners
• High incidence of GBV and underreporting of mental health conditions

The meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including AYP representatives, district health officials, education and youth departments, ADHFPPs, TALC, and AHF Zambia. Their collective insights and commitments are shaping a more responsive and inclusive health system.

Empowering Peer Educators to Combat SGBV

On July 7, 2025, TYP360, with support from the District Health Office, conducted an intensive orientation for 20 Peer Educators from seven Kazungula health facilities. Led by an expert from the One Stop Centre (OSC), the training focused on:

• Clinical management of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
• Medical investigations including HIV, RPR, Hepatitis B, and FBC
• Preventive measures such as PEP, PrEP, emergency contraception, and STI treatment
• Gender roles and their influence on SGBV

This comprehensive training has equipped Peer Educators with the tools to lead community awareness programs, support survivors, and challenge harmful norms that perpetuate violence.

Building a Safer, Healthier Future

The S.I.G.H.T Project is not only improving access to health services—it is cultivating a generation of informed, empowered youth advocates. Through legal training, stakeholder collaboration, and targeted SGBV interventions, the project is laying the groundwork for sustainable change in Kazungula and Choma.

Success Story: Empowering Justice at the Grassroots — Kazungula’s New Generation of Paralegals

In a transformative stride toward community justice, Kazungula District welcomed 34 newly trained paralegals, young changemakers who completed an intensive 21-day training program from June 2–22, 2025, at Woodlands Lodge in Livingstone. Facilitated by the Paralegal Alliance Network (PAN), the program was more than a legal crash course, it was a launchpad for youth-led justice reform.

These paralegals, many of whom are Peer Educators, emerged equipped with foundational legal knowledge and survivor-centred approaches to address gender-based violence (GBV) and support vulnerable populations. Their deployment to local health facilities marks a strategic integration of legal aid into frontline health services, ensuring survivors of GBV receive not only medical care but also legal guidance and advocacy.

This initiative, championed by The Youth Platform (TYP360) in collaboration with the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), reflects a bold commitment to grassroots legal empowerment. It bridges the gap between justice and accessibility, placing trained youth advocates directly within communities where they are most needed.

For Kazungula, this is more than a milestone, it’s a movement. A movement where young voices are not only heard but empowered to uphold rights, challenge injustice, and foster healing. With each paralegal stationed at a health facility, the district takes a decisive step toward a future where justice is not a distant promise, but a lived reality.