Atlas Mara Bank donates 60 Bicycles to World Vision Zambia’s Strong Girls Strong Zambia Campaign

Child marriage remains a huge problem in Zambia, which is relatively very high despite a reduction. According to GirlsNotBrides statistics indicate that 29% of women aged between 20-24 were married by age 18 and 9% of women aged 25-49 were first married by the age of 15.

It is for this reason that World Vision Zambia launched the ‘Strong Girls Strong Zambia’ campaign in September 2022. Since then, numerous interventions have been implemented to keep girls in school to enhance the chance of their productive future.

In accordance with one if its core values, “We are Partners”, World Vision Zambia has partnered with various organisations towards the ‘Strong Girls Strong Zambia’ campaign.

This time it is Atlas Mara, who have donated 60 bicycles to World Vision Zambia for 60 girls at Chafwa Secondary School in Kasama, who walk more than 10 kilometres to school.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka today, Atlas Mara Acting Managing Director, Bobbline Cheembela, said the bank has made this donation under the education pillar of its Corporate Social Responsibility to address the challenges that girls face in accessing education, which include long distances to school.

“We firmly believe that education plays a critical role in transforming lives and breaking the chains of poverty. It is through education that individuals acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive and contribute to their communities. Through this donation, we are proud to be part of the effort to enhance education sustainability in Zambia. As the great former South African President, Nelson Mandela, once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," Mr. Cheembela said.

He thanked World Vision for their tireless efforts in advocating for children’s rights and for their dedication to improving the lives of the underprivileged children.

And World Vision Zambia National Director, John Hasse, said by working together, organisations like World Vision and Atlas Mara, and society in general can contribute to giving Zambian children a much brighter future.

“We are really excited about this partnership. It’s going to at least 60 girls because I can see that many of the girls are going to ride of the bicycle. There will be one peddling but there’s going to be one at the back as well, and so we say thank you for that. The ‘Strong Girls Strong Zambia’ campaign is here to help 15,000 girls not only be retrieved from child marriage but also for them to have a much better future. And these bicycles will continue the legacy that Atlas Mara and World Vision has in working together," he said.

Mr. Hasse further said the End Child Marriage Campaign launched in 2018, was a huge success in retrieving girls from child marriage.

"So far, the End Child Marriage campaign has helped remove 1,000 girls from child marriage and give them back an education, and give their families economic opportunities so that they do not go back into child marriage”, he said. "The Strong Girls Strong Zambia campaign builds on the success of the End Child Marriage campaign, and we are excited with the support from our local partners."

The ‘Strong Girls Strong Zambia’ campaign was will run until 2025, with the aim of transforming the lives of 15,000 girls who have been rescued from child marriage or are at risk of dropping out of school.