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CHAPTER TWO ONE
are disempowered because they are often non-literate
with no experience or confidence to call the system to
account on behalf of their children. If parents consider
school unsafe, they will withdraw their children rather
than take action against authority.
Against this background, Camfed makes known its zero
tolerance to child abuse and undertakes a concerted
advocacy and training program. In each Camfed national
office, the Executive Director has direct responsibility for
child protection throughout the program. Within partner
schools, it is known that infringement of children’s
rights to protection will result in action. The training
and close involvement of community structures such
as Cama, Community Development Committees (CDCs)
and School Management Committees (SMCs), ensures
a robust system of monitoring within schools, and the
commitment and knowledge to act where problems do
arise. Head teachers are members of SMCs and CDCs, so
their leadership in child protection also influences the
culture of Camfed partner schools to make them more
girl-welcoming. The rise in numbers and influence of
Mother Support Groups (MSGs) is extending this support
network and alert system for children. Collectively
mothers are acquiring new confidence to challenge
authority and the status quo.
Camfed’s child protection advocacy in Zambia
Camfed has made its most significant strides in child
protection in Zambia (see also Chapter One, page 38).
The lessons and strategies there are being extended
to all country programs, including Malawi, where
child protection is being introduced to multiple
constituencies from the outset. In Zambia, the Ministry
of Education has adopted Camfed’s child protection
policy as a national strategy for schools, and Camfed’s
secondary school scholarship program for girls is being
promoted as best practice to other agencies and local
government authorities precisely because it integrates
child protection fully into design and implementation.
Through Camfed’s advocacy, radio broadcasts by the
Educational Broadcasting Service, which are used
regularly as a teaching aid in classrooms, now routinely
include messages explaining to children their rights.
Camfed Zambia since early 2008 has been running a
public zero-tolerance campaign against child abuse.
Every level of society is engaged and national media and
celebrities are opening up the issue to public debate at
a level unprecedented in a society where the subject
is normally taboo, particularly in rural areas. Regular
print and radio features, including popular talk-shows
that feature panels of politicians, health professionals,
magistrates and NGOs, are increasingly calling for action
and change. Cama’s advocacy work through community
‘sensitizations’ and film are having a significant influence
on public debate as communities turn out in high
numbers for such meetings and screenings (see also
Chapter Three, pages 70 and 72).
As part of this advocacy, Camfed Zambia’s Executive
Director in 2009 met traditional community leaders
in Lusaka and spoke to them at length about issues
surrounding child abuse and the traditional practices
that may inadvertently perpetuate it. Camfed joined 24
Chiefs of Zambia at the House of Chiefs in a discussion
on the harmful practices of customary law as it operates
alongside statutory law in Zambian society. Often
dominant, customary law — particularly in rural areas –
may not only contradict statutory law, but in certain of its
practices sanction abuse. Chiefs are highly respected local
leaders and generally they seek to uphold customary law,
but as a result of this meeting they agreed to examine the
harmful practices protected by customary law and to use
their influence within communities to promote respectful
treatment of children. This dialogue with Chiefs is ongoing.
Psychosocial support in schools: teacher mentors
Schools have the potential to provide more than basic
education — they are vital for social development and
can be a source of much-needed support from peers and
teachers, particularly when girls are caring for siblings at
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