Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global foundation for education and development, with support from its strategic partner, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), and in partnership with World Vision Zambia, the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA), and Zambia's Ministry of Education, has marked the successful completion of the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education (EVE) Project in Namwala District, Zambia.
Implemented over three years, the EVE Project strengthened equitable access to and retention in quality primary education for children at high risk of dropping out or being excluded from school. The project addressed some of the most pressing barriers affecting vulnerable learners, including early marriage, poverty, child labor, long travel distances and poor learning environments, helping create more inclusive opportunities for children to learn and thrive.
In a statement on Sunday, EAA Foundation said the EVE project exceeded its original target of supporting 7,000 high-risk and most-at-risk learners across 37 schools, reaching 10,193 children, and achieving a 98 per cent survival rate. It also identified and re-enrolled 1,780 out of school children, enabling them to return to the classroom and continue their education.
To strengthen wellbeing and protection, the project established 37 SAFE Clubs, which provided life skills and psychosocial support to 5,748 learners while engaging 4,868 parents and caregivers in home-based learning support.
In addition, 74 teachers were trained in gender-responsive and inclusive teaching practices, and 37 Stay-in-School Committees were equipped to identify, monitor and support children at risk of dropping out using a locally developed Student Risk Matrix.
EAA Foundation said that, as the project concludes, efforts have been made to ensure that its impact continues beyond the formal implementation period through the establishment of community savings groups and their linkage to financial service providers to help families meet children's basic needs. The Student Risk Matrix has also been institutionalised as an early warning tool within schools and community structures.
It added that the project helped enhance the capabilities of teachers, parents, and community volunteers, who are now better equipped to mentor and support vulnerable learners. Continued collaboration with the Ministry of Education will help integrate the project's tools and best practices into national education priorities.
Dr Said Yasin, Executive Director of EAA Foundation's Educate A Child programme, said: "The success of the EVE Project reminds us what is possible when commitment meets collaboration. Together with World Vision Zambia, FAWEZA, and the Ministry of Education, we have not only supported thousands of vulnerable children to remain in education, but we have also helped build a path forward that communities are now equipped to sustain.
From bicycles to safe spaces, from teacher training to community-led early warning systems, the sustainability built into this effort is as important as the numbers reached. It is a powerful example of what partnership can do to unlock potential and protect the right to education for every child."
Maryam al-Ghithani, Head of African and Asian Projects at QFFD, said: "Qatar Fund for Development is proud to have supported the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education Project, which has helped remove barriers preventing vulnerable children in Zambia from accessing and remaining in quality education.
The project reflects our commitment to investing in inclusive and sustainable education solutions that empower children, strengthen communities, and contribute to long-term development. By working with Education Above All Foundation, World Vision Zambia, FAWEZA and Zambia's Ministry of Education, we are pleased to see the impact of this partnership continue beyond the project cycle through community ownership, stronger school systems and practical tools that help protect every child’s right to learn."