Community Awareness

Our workshops, legal trainings and radio programs educate rural communities as a whole on human rights. Topics discussed include: the legal system in Zambia, corruption, women's land rights, gender, poverty reduction strategies and HIV/AIDS. During workshops, we use group discussion, sketches, role-playing, singing, and story telling. Participants are encouraged to create solutions that can bring about desired social change. LADA has held community awareness workshops in nine of the eleven districts of Southern Province

Among rural communities where we have held community awareness events, a critical mass of change agents have already begun speaking up and talking with decision makers at high levels about human rights, economic development and community needs. Women have more opportunity and the space to express their views. They are now taking a central seat in discussions on development issues.

Workshops for Traditional Leaders We conduct workshops for traditional leaders in order to influence their attitudes towards women and children. Traditional leaders have the primary function of regulating relationships and social behavior within a traditional community. They perceive their role today as catalysts of developmental processes and mediators for conflict resolution.

Through our workshops, we have traditional leaders revisit and review the customary law on such issues as marriage, land rights and traditional practices. We educate them to respect human rights and uphold women's social, political and economic rights. Our experience has revealed that traditional leaders are receptive to a rights-based approach to development and many have encouraged LADA to open up legal desks within their chiefdoms.

Workshops for Stakeholders To fulfill our mission, we work in partnership with a number of public, private and non-governmental organizations. One of the ways we strengthen our network is through the regular training of these stakeholders. Over the years we have held workshops for community-based organizations, churches, and government ministries like the Police Victim Support Unity, Judiciary Department, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare.

Radio Programs To educate larger audiences, we feature radio programs on three community radio stations: Chikuni, Mazabuka and Sky FM. The programs discuss issues related to legal education, women and children's rights, poverty, HIV/AIDS and development. Programs at Radio Chikuni and Mazabuka are predominantly in Chitonga, the local language that is widely spoken and understood by most of the populace in the region. LADA has also aired 30-minute programs in English that target non-Chitonga speaking people as well as police officers, teachers, nurses, and agriculture extension workers.