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ChildFund Zambia has called for strengthened partnerships among stakeholders to address the persistent challenges confronting girls across the country.
Speaking in a statement to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, ChildFund Zambia Country Director, Victor Koyi, said the organisation stood with girls in Zambia and around the world in celebrating their strength, resilience, and leadership.
Koyi described this year’s theme — “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead” — as a powerful declaration that highlights the important roles girls already play in society.
“Girls are not just future leaders — they are already leading today, in their homes, in their schools, and in their communities,” he said.
He emphasised that when girls were given equal opportunities, their impact was “immeasurable,” noting that many girls are already leading school clubs that challenge harmful norms, advocate against child marriage, and push for access to education, healthcare, and protection.
However, Koyi cautioned that too many girls in Zambia still faced serious barriers, including child marriage, gender-based violence, poverty, and limited access to education and leadership opportunities.
Citing data from the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey and UNICEF, he revealed that one in three girls in Zambia was married before the age of 18, with rural areas being the most affected.
Further, statistics from the Zambia Police Service show that the country recorded 10,170 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) between April and June 2025. During this period, children accounted for 22.1 percent of all GBV victims — with girls representing 73.4 percent of those cases.
“These are not just girls’ issues — they are society’s issues, and they demand action from all of us,” Koyi stressed.
He warned that with the world already halfway to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), progress remained too slow, as poverty, inequality, climate shocks, and conflict continued to deny many children — especially girls — the chance to grow up healthy, educated, and safe.
“If we fail to act now, the cost will be measured in lost childhoods, lost potential, and lost lives,” he cautioned.
Koyi reaffirmed ChildFund’s commitment to ensuring that every child, everywhere, grew up safe, healthy, educated, and skilled, in line with the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.”
He noted that ChildFund Zambia was working closely with children, youth, families, local organisations, and all levels of government to deliver impactful programmes — from rural villages to urban communities — that strengthen child protection systems, build resilience, keep girls in school, and amplify their voices.
“We are helping communities lead sustainable change so that no child is left behind,” he said.
Koyi added that through continued collaboration with government, civil society, communities, and families, the organisation aimed to create safe spaces where girls can grow, lead, and thrive.
He concluded with an inspiring message to girls: “You are not too young. You are not too small. You are enough. You are powerful. You are the change we need. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Let us celebrate the girl you are — and support the change you are already leading.”
Koyi expressed confidence that together, Zambia could build a future where every girl was safe, valued, educated, and free to shape her own destiny.
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