What is the Amos Youth Centre?
In August 2006, The African Education Program created the Amos Youth Centre to provide an educational, creative and safe environment for vulnerable children.

Due to its success, within a one-year period, the center has outgrown its initial home. Therefore in August 2007, it moved to a larger facility located a few blocks from the previous one.

The Amos Youth Centre is a Community Service Society registered with the Zambian Government. The mission of the center is to promote education for the underprivileged children, and HIV/AIDS awareness among all the youth of Kafue and Zambia at large.

The Amos Youth Centre is located in Shikoswe District, one of the most poverty stricken areas in the town of Kafue (25 miles south of the capital Lusaka).

AEP volunteers operate the Center. During hours of operation the center is staffed with 3 volunteers.

The members are youth from the community, aged 7 through 22.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30
Saturdays: 9:00 to 1:00
Sundays: 2:00 to 4:30

Evening Hours
Friday & Saturday: 6:30 to 10:00

What are the programs and activities offered?

• Breakfast Club. Started in January 2008, the Breakfast Club serves approximately 50 meals each school day to the AEP Scholarship recipients. Without this program, many students would go through the school day without having a meal.
• English Only Rule. To increase proficiency in English and better compete for a spot at the University or to find employment, students may not use any local dialects while at the center.
• Homework Support. Students can participate in tutoring lessons offered by AEP volunteers in Math and English. Mentoring programs are ongoing to develop the older teen members as capable tutors.
• Career Guidance. AEP volunteers help to place children in local schools where there are not enough seats for all applicants; especially for HIV/AIDS affected orphans. AEP scholarships are also made available to those most in need. Read more.
• English Speaking, Reading and Writing program. This program was created as an alternative for the children who cannot attend school due to the lack of available seats or various hardships.
• Literacy Program. Designed for young adults who dropped out of school at a very early age and now wish to improve their speaking, reading and writing skills.
• Exam preparation. Students use the library to prepare for their exams using the library with its 7000 schoolbooks and readers, mostly literature for children and young adults.
• Programs in HIV/AIDS awareness. Programs are specially designed for children, which purpose is to sensitize about HIV/AIDS. This program's focus is on prevention for youth and children and breaking the stigma and discrimination associated to HIV/AIDS.
  Children are divided in 3 age groups for these programs:
  • 6 through 10 years
  • pre-teens from 10-12 years
  • adolescents 12 years and above
  The youths and children participate in the HIV/AIDS programs through drama and HIV/AIDS talks. The following topics are addressed: sexual education, prevention and also life skills to cope with difficult situations and establish important values and attitudes in them. We offer psychological and social counseling to both the infected and affected youths with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We have a referral system where we refer the counseled youths to the public health centers for HIV/AIDS testing.
• Library. Students can borrow books
• Computers Lab. 9 stations are installed in the center for students to learn to basic skills in computers. They also can access the Internet.
• After School Youth Activities and Meeting Place. The Drama Group, the JET Club and the Soccer Team are among some of the activities at the center. These activities are organized and run by the youth themselves under the supervision of adult volunteers.

Center Management

• Dorcas Chama - Director
• Agnes Banda - Assistant Director

Address

Amos' Youth Centre
P.O. Box 360002
Kafue, Zambia