Safe Strides Initiatives

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗮!

Yesterday, Safe Strides Initiatives (SSI), with the support of the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), officially launched the Awareness Campaign for Sustainable Mobility in Lusaka.

The launch was graced by a representative from the office of the Mayor of the City of Lusaka, alongside school leaders, community members, and over 25 trained youth peer educators.

📍 The campaign kicked off at E-Ride Zambia, moved through the streets and surrounding community, and continued at Libala Secondary School.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:

Inspiring speeches from the office of the Mayor, SSI, and school leaders on the importance of safe and sustainable transport.

Peer educators engaging directly with pupils and community members, raising awareness on:
✅ Sustainable mobility (walking, cycling, green transport)
✅ Road safety practices
✅ Climate-friendly lifestyle choices

A vibrant display of youth leadership, energy, and commitment to building a safer and greener Lusaka.

This campaign is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, our peer educators will continue spreading the message across schools, communities, and online platforms.

💡 Together, we can reimagine Lusaka as a city where mobility is safe, sustainable, and inclusive for all.

We extend our gratitude to the Lusaka City Council and the Bloomberg Philanthropies to make this opportunity to empower the community possible

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿!

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 12 August 2025
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺: Google Meet & Facebook Live

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: Zed Youth on the Edge- Breaking Free from Substance Abuse and Mobility Risks

This International Youth Day, Safe Strides Initiatives brings you real-life stories of Zambian youth breaking free from the chains of substance abuse and unsafe mobility. 💪🇿🇲

🎤 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:

Inutu Soonga Njovu – Education Officer, DEC

Mr Choolwe Mphande – Director, Traffic Desk

Abraham Chishimba – Moderator 1

Tunji Chisako – Moderator 2

𝗕𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱.
𝗕𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱.
𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

📌 Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/tti-yxmr-efy

Let’s celebrate by standing together for a healthier, safer future for Zambia’s youth. 💙
Centre For Primary Care Research - CPCR UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UN Youth Affairs Safe Kids Worldwide To***co Control Consortium of Zambia -TCCZ The Commonwealth Ministry of Health Zambia Global Youth Mobilization
Traffic Desk

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗼’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆

At just 17, Dalitso’s life was derailed when he unknowingly smoked a cigarette laced with he**in. What followed was a heartbreaking spiral into addiction to he**in, co***ne, and codeine. He dropped out of school, lost critical opportunities, and became isolated from family and friends.

But Dalitso’s story took a powerful turn.

Thanks to the life-changing support of Sanity House Rehabilitation Centre, Dalitso was given a second chance. In 2022, he began his recovery journey there. By 2024, he was 1 year and 8 months sober, had rewritten his school exams, earned his certification as an addiction counselor, and now proudly works at Sanity House as a peer mentor, helping other young people struggling with substance abuse.

Dalitso shares:

𝙎𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Well done, Dalitso and heartfelt thanks to the team at Sanity House for your incredible work and dedication.

At Safe Strides Initiatives, we believe in the power of community and partnership. Sanity House continues to be a beacon of hope for many youth in Zambia, and we are proud to recognize their impactful role in transforming lives.👏👏
Centre For Primary Care Research - CPCR To***co Control Consortium of Zambia -TCCZ Master Chimbala Foundation

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁
It starts small... but the impact lasts a lifetime.
At Safe Strides, we are building safe spaces for youth to choose life, not drugs.
🙋🏾‍♂️ Want to be a youth ambassador? DM us!

🟩 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲!
The youth of today are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘄.
At Safe Strides Initiatives, we believe that your voice matters and your choices today can save lives tomorrow.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.
📸 Tag a young person who inspires you!

𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 & 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆

🕊️ “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

To every young person battling pressure, addiction, or fear, God sees you. He’s not finished with your story.

At Safe Strides Initiatives, we believe that 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 + 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 = 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺.

💬 Share a scripture or prayer that keeps you going. Let’s uplift one another.

🌟 Success doesn’t just happen...
🚦 Opportunities don’t wait forever.
🎯 Be prepared. Be present. Take the step.
Good Morning

❗𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
Road traffic injuries are among the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 for young people in Zambia.

And in the backstreets of Lusaka, 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝟭𝟬 are sniffing glue and abusing alcohol, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻, but to 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲.

This is why Safe Strides Initiatives was born, to empower communities, educate youth, and advocate for bold, lasting change.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

UN Youth Affairs Safe Kids Worldwide UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Centre For Primary Care Research - CPCR

📢 𝗗𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮?

Many talk about the challenges young people face—but have you seen the data?

The State of Youth Report in Zambia sheds light on the real issues, dreams, and struggles of young people across the country—from unemployment and substance abuse to education, mental health, and opportunities for empowerment.

📖 If you haven’t read the report yet, click the link below and take a moment to learn about the current realities facing our youth.

🔗 STATE-OF-THE-YOUTH-REPORT-final.pdf https://share.google/Y5Z2dZTT64DF0u04J

📣 After reading the report, we’d love to hear from YOU: ➡️ Do you believe this is the true state of the youths in Zambia—or does it feel like just another story? 💬 What stands out most to you? 💡 What do you think needs to change?

Let’s spark a conversation that leads to action. The future of our nation depends on the youth. Let’s ensure they’re seen, heard, and supported. 💪🏽🇿🇲

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?

Leading up to the Festival this September, we’re launching the Dialogues — a global call to create space for youth voices to shape the multilateral agenda. 🗣️🌍

We’re inviting you — young changemakers, civil society members, and UN partners — to host Dialogues in your schools, communities, and networks. ✨

These Dialogues are a chance to share your ideas, raise your priorities, and ask the big questions:
💬 What does a world that truly works for young people look like?
🤝 How can we bridge generational divides to build that future together?
🚧 What barriers still exist?
💡 What solutions are youth already leading?

Your discussions will directly shape the Festival: a global, youth-led movement during UN General Assembly (UNGA) week, culminating in a high-level gathering on 25 September to mark the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY).

All inputs will feed into a global summary document that will help to inform the high-level meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of WPAY and other major intergovernmental processes and spaces.

Institutions may be slow to change, but young people are already building a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. 💪🌱

👉 Learn how to host your own Dialogue:
🔗 un.org/youthaffairs/en/youthlead-dialogues

𝗪𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗨𝗽 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻
We messed up last night, we lost another fight
Lost to ourselves, but we'll just start again
We keep falling down, we keep on hitting the ground
But we always get up — now, let’s see what’s next
Birds don't just fly — they fall down and get up
Nobody learns without gettin’ it wrong
We won't give up, no, we won’t give in
’Til we reach the end — and then we’ll start again
No, we won’t leave — we wanna try everything
We wanna try, even though we could fail

🇿🇲 To Our Brave Copper Queens 🧡⚽

Dear Copper Queens,
Though the scoreboard showed 5-0, we see something greater than numbers — we see heart, courage, and determination.

💪 You faced a powerhouse, but you still showed up, stood tall, and fought with pride. Just like the song says:

“I won’t give up, no I won’t give in… I’ll keep trying ‘til I reach the end.”

Losses don't define you — your strength in the face of adversity does. Every great team has tough days, but it's what you do next that matters. Rise, reflect, and come back stronger.

We believe in you. Zambia believes in you.
Keep going. Keep trying. Keep dreaming. 🇿🇲

🕊️ Nelson Mandela Day 2025 🕊️

At Safe Strides Initiatives, we honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela: a symbol of courage, justice, and servant leadership.

As we work to empower young people to make safe and healthy choices, we’re reminded of Madiba’s words:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Today, let's take action, no matter how small, to build a Zambia where every youth can walk in dignity, free from harm, addiction, and fear.
UN Youth Affairs