About Us. Geographical and social situation

The town of Chililabombwe is located in the north-central Copperbelt province of Zambia in Southern Africa. Chililabombwe has a population of 100,000 people and is supported by two key industries - mining, employing approximately 2,000 people and farming on a smaller basis.

Zambia is one of Africa’s poorest countries ranking 165th out of 177 countries and has one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV in the world – 17% of 15-49 year- olds. Approximately 80% of people are unemployed and over two thirds live below the poverty line.

• Impoverished families survive on < $1 USD per day

• 68% below poverty line with most surviving on < $1 USD per day (UNDP 2007)

• Very limited secondary school education with only 23% enrollment rate (UNICEF 2007)

• HIV/AIDS and poverty afflict mostly women and children

• High child mortality rate (182 out of every 1,000 children do not survive their 5th birthday) – UNICEF 2007

• Youths are the most vulnerable group

• Youths frequently end up as malnourished, orphaned street children who fall prey to criminality.