Youths in Chongwe district have commended Adaptive Leadership Zambia for building various tools to help equip adolescents with necessary life skills.

Esnart Mainza, a grade nine pupil at Chongwe Basic School said since she joined the group in 2022, her life has been influenced in a positive way.

 “Our group is very creative, aside from discussing sexual reproductive health education, we also learn life skills such as the making of flower pots and baskets. This is to enable us effectively deal with demands and challenges of everyday life,” she said.

Jarry Kulelu is another member of the Adaptive Leadership.

She says, joining the group has helped her to avoid indulging in risky behaviours, such as having sex at an early age.

Jarry commends the organisation for ensuring that the young people have the information needed to make informed decisions.

Chongwe district Manager, Marvis Threasa Mwakalombe says equipping young people with life skills has enabled them to cope with various challenges but also improve their sexual and reproductive health, such as avoiding risky sexual behaviours.

Marvis said that life skills that the young people obtain are essential to deal with peer pressure and useful in career Planning, adding that all this put together in turn will affect the Sexual and Reproductive Health of the young person.

She said the group first made the desktop organisers in June 2022 which were not very viable and the same year in November they introduced another concept of making flower pots and baskets.

Marvis said the initiative has been well received and is helping young people to become independent thinkers and encourages them to plan for their future.