Edusport Zambia

Standard Chartered Bank PLC has come in with support in the goal programme that is targeted to empower the adolescents from the age of 12-20 who come from low income families.

The adolescence stage is the critical intervention period where girls begin on a path for economic success, or downfall and through investing in girls upstream, before possible outcomes like early marriage and childbirth or dropping out of school occur it’s possible to change their life trajectories.

The bank in partnership with EduSport foundation a non-governmental organization launched the goal programme to help young girls experience the decision making process through sports empowerment.

The Bank understands that women drive economic growth in their communities by directly working with adolescent girls and enabling them to be change agents that would impact knowledge to their siblings, parents, peers, and community members.

The goal project that was launched in 2006 as a pilot t in Delhi, reaching 70 girls and in the last two years, over 14,000 girls had taken part in the programme in India Nigeria, and Jordan.

And last year, the bank aimed at reaching an additional 25,000 girls in India, Nigeria and Jordan. picture_091.jpg

Zambia became the fifth country in the world to implement the goal project after India, Nigeria, Jordan and China.

The project which is categorized in different modules looks at issues of sport and life skills also education modules that tackle topics that include financial literacy, communication skills, health and hygiene.

Goal also provides opportunities for employees of Stanchart engage by allowing staff to volunteer to deliver modules, mentor girls, play sports, and offer sessions based on their unique interests and skill sets.

After the girls complete their sessions those that show interest and exhibits leadership qualities are invited to become goal champions, and help train other girls, allowing the goal model to be replicated. picture_086.jpg

Goal also supports community investment agenda and diversity & inclusion work across the Bank.

Women’s empowerment is central to the values of Standard Chartered Bank and critical to economic development also women represent a large customer and talent segment for the business and will drive economic growth in their communities in the future.

Adolescent girls are key change agents in their communities; it is estimated that for each girl reach through the Goal programme, it increased knowledge and awareness to an additional 50 mothers, fathers, siblings, and community members.

In Zambia from the time the goal project was launched about 188 goal young instructors from seven (7) districts have been trained and have already started going into schools and communities to implement the project. So far around 800 girls have enrolled and are attending Goal sessions in various sites.

It’s our hope that the number will keep on growing as these Goal girls plan to start reaching out to their peers in wider communities.