Empowering Girls Through IMPACT+ Clubs
By Agatha Mali, Communications, Zambia
Esther, 13, is one of the children in Chongwe District, Zambia, who has greatly benefited from World Vision’s IMPACT+ programme, implemented at her school.
The IMPACT+ programme is designed to nurture competent and compassionate agents of change, young people who are motivated, skilled, and equipped with strong values to positively impact their communities.
For Esther, this programme has been life changing. Through interactive training sessions and weekly club meetings, she has gained knowledge, confidence, and the drive to make the world a better place.
“It is through IMPACT+ clubs that I have learned a lot of things that I did not know about in life,” Esther shares.
One of the most valuable lessons she has embraced is the importance of empathy and taking action to help those around her. Inspired by what she has learned, she has taken on the role of a peer mentor, encouraging her classmates to speak up, set goals, and drive positive change in their school and community.
Through IMPACT+ and its integration with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives, Esther has also acquired a practical and life-changing skill of making reusable sanitary pads. This skill is especially important for girls in her community, as it promotes menstrual hygiene, dignity, and school attendance.
“Our club has also taught me how to make reusable sanitary pads, which will help many girls who cannot afford to buy them,” Esther says proudly.
Beyond just learning the skill, Esther has taken it upon herself to teach other girls and boys how to make reusable pads in her community, ensuring that more of her peers stay in school without disruption due to menstrual challenges.
Several girls in her school in the past used to miss classes due to lack of access to sanitary pads. This affected their academic performance, and they faced stigma.
“We noticed that most girls would stay away from school during their menstrual cycle and this affected their school performance because they missed classes for over three days,” she says. “So through the knowledge imparted on us as an IMPACT+ and WASH UP club, we came up with a community service learning projects of making re-usable sanitary pads and they have enabled us to help our fellow girls so that they can consistently attend classes.”
She says in the past, she used to feel ashamed to talk about menstrual hygiene issues but the knowledge and values she has learned from the IMPACT+ club have helped to grow her confidence to openly talk about issues at her school and community.
“I am happy to be a member of this club because it has not only taught me how to make sanitary towels but it has also helped me to develop and practice good behaviour and morals both at school and in my community,” she says.