Zambia inclusive education project

Worldwide, it has been estimated that there are nearly 240 million children with disabilities, of whom 28.9 million live in eastern and southern Africa.

At Sightsavers, we advocate for inclusive education to ensure children with disabilities are able to learn and play alongside their peers. In Zambia, we’re working in the Chinsali district of Muchinga province to increase access to high-quality inclusive education for children and young people with disabilities.

As part of the Tusambilile Chapamo: Let’s learn together project, Sightsavers is working with the Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations (ZAFOD), the Zambian ministry of education and the Chinsali Youth Resource Centre.

The initiative aims to improve educational opportunities for children and young people with disabilities, from pre-school through to secondary and tertiary education, as well as helping them transition from education to employment. It particularly focuses on empowering young women and girls, who experience high levels of discrimination and exclusion.

The four-year project, which will run until January 2025, ensures teachers have the skills to support students with disabilities, and is encouraging schools to make classrooms and other areas more inclusive. It also helps stakeholders and policy-makers to advocate for inclusive education by spreading the message about the importance of disability inclusion.

The project is implemented by Sightavers and Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations (ZAFOD).