Latkings Outreach Program since the year 2016 has been implementing the DREAMS project, in two districts: Lusaka and Chingola. The  goal  of the project is to  create  demand  for/and  provide  access  to  age  appropriate  sexual  reproductive health and HIV services to vulnerable girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years in both districts. We are currently implementing in schools and adolescent friendly spaces where we have girls enrolled in our DREAMS clubs, each club is attached to our well trained mentor who facilitates different topics around SRH that affect the girl child.

The project seeks to address the factors that have increased vulnerability levels of AGYW to HIV, including low SRH knowledge levels, limited access to SRH services, sexual abuse, low self-esteem, gender based violence and engagement in high risk sexual behavior.

During  two years of implementation the Latkings DREAMS project has witnessed 1100 adolescent girls and young  women  between  the  ages  of  15  to  24,  embarking  on  the  behavioral  change  Latkings DREAMS journey towards becoming Determined, Resilient, Empowered, Aids-free, Mentored and  Safe.

D

Determined

Decision + Focus to get something done, It simply means not giving up. As a DREAMS girl, you must keep going no matter how hard things get.

R

Resilient

As a DREAMS girl, when life stretches you, bends you, compresses you, you must find a way to raise again.  You cannot allow failure to overcome you. You should be able to withstand shock without permanent rapture, you must find a way to recover and adjust to change or/and misfortune

E

Empowered

A DREAMS girl, you must represent your interests in a responsible and self-determined way. You must be stronger, more confident and claim your rights. For example, if you are being abused or know someone who is being abused, you need to report to the necessary authority or tell someone you trust to help you as soon as possible.

A

AIDS-Free

As a DREAMS girl, if you are HIV negative, stay negative. If you are HIV positive, do not lose hope. Get on treatment and adhere to it so as to avoid progressing into AIDS.

M

Mentored

A mentor is here to support, encourage, advise and guide you.  They are NOT here to tell you what to do, but help you manage your own learning so as to maximize your potential, develop your skills, improve your performance and help you become the person YOU want to be.

S

Safe

A DREAMS girl is safe from sexual, physical, emotional, psychological abuse, including GBV. They are also safe from STIs, including HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy because they have access to SRHS.

OBJECTIVES

• To increase acceptance and demand for sexual reproductive health information to 1000 girls and young women aged between 15 and 24 in targeted schools and communities by 2020.

• To create demand for, and provide access to age appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV services to 5,000 girls and young women between age 15 and 24 years by 2020.

• To advocate and raise awareness on the policies and laws that promote adolescents health rights through campaigns targeting families for improved Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)/HIV services.

INTERVENTIONS

Mentorship, In-school Service provision, Community Sensitization, strengthening linkages..

Activities

Role plays, Community Outreach, Community Service, Skills Training, Mobile health services.

Sites

Lusaka District: Bauleni, Mahatma Gandhi, Kamanga, Hillside and Mambilima Primary Schools, Munali Girls, Kabulonga Girls, Woodlands A and Matero Girls Secondary Schools.

Chingola District: Maiteneke, Nchanga, Nchanga Trust, Chikola, Chingola, Chingola, Nabonga.