Kwacha Kum'mawa - Chipata, Zambia

The newspaper's strategy involves providing information to youth through peer education and peer involvement in the production process. Many of those involved, like the 18-year-old editor, got involved in the project through the Africare project. Staff members who participated in that project report that abstinence among youth, the use of condoms, computer appreciation, and general leadership abilities are some of the areas in which Africare has bolstered their knowledge and skills.

Networking is another strategy. The group has formed a link with Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), and hopes thereby to improve the quality of the magazine over time through research, exposure visits, and training. COCONET is a local umbrella body for communication-related rural entities; this link provides another outlet for young staff.

Produced four times per year, issues include interviews, columns on local celebrities and gossip, puzzles, question-and-answer sessions, a legal column, and feature stories. The content focuses on lifestyle and gender issues, with a special emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion, Kwacha Kum‘mawa features content on relationships, local tradition, health matters (especially HIV/AIDS), rape and wife battering, women‘s rights and other content of local interest.

In early 2004, Kwacha Kum‘mawa expanded its communication strategy by moving to a larger office with enough space to produce the magazine, as well as to provide a Women's Resource Centre. At a small Internet cafe there, staff provide training on the use of computers and the Internet, with a particular focus on the needs and interests of young women and teenage girls. Digital radio technology enables interactive radio listening and the downloading of educational HIV/AIDS information. In addition, the Centre offers a space for psycho-social counselling, particularly on the issue on HIV AIDS. Kwacha Kum‘mawa is equipping staff with cell phones in an effort to eventually begin offering 24-hour tele-counselling.

Gender, Girls, Women, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Family Planning.

Kwacha Kum'mawa is a Chewa phrase meaning “light has come to the East”.

Based on one of the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and consistent with the Zambian constitution, the magazine believes that everyone has the right to freedom and expression of opinion. The magazine is designed to act as a forum for discussion and debate of issues that are important to readers.