A Seed of Kindness: The Beginning
Ten years ago, in 2014, a group of friends visited Kamwala Remand, now known as Lusaka Remand Correctional Facility, with 50 blankets. What started as a small gesture of kindness sparked a movement that would eventually transform the lives of thousands of children entangled in the child justice system. As the blankets were distributed, the children expressed their gratitude by saying, “Thank you for coming. Tonight, we will be warm. Tonight, we will be talking about how people treated us like human beings. Please do not forget about us.”
This heartfelt plea became the catalyst for the creation of the Undikumbukire Project Zambia (UP Zambia), named after the Chewa phrase meaning “Remember me.”
2015: Transitioning to Legal Services
By 2015, UP Zambia had transitioned from merely providing donations to actively offering legal services to children in correctional facilities. During social visits to Kamwala Remand, children were interviewed about their cases. The focus shifted to cases of children with the longest stays in prison, especially those not attending court sessions or receiving bail, often due to a lack of parental presence or support. This effort was led by volunteer advocates and law students who took the initiative to trace parents, understanding that the presence of parents in court was crucial for the children’s cases. They made court appearances and conducted follow-ups in Lusaka and neighboring districts, setting a new precedent for advocacy in the child justice system.
2016: Presidential Pardons and Advocacy
In 2016, UP Zambia worked on a variety of cases, including those involving children who stayed in custody for extended periods. A significant highlight was securing presidential pardons on Africa Freedom Day for 40 Ethiopian child migrants who had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for consenting to be smuggled. These children, held in Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility, were victims of human trafficking. UP Zambia’s relentless advocacy, legal efforts, and humanitarian aid led to their safe return to their families, showcasing the organization’s commitment to justice and compassion.
2017: Justice for Juveniles
2017 marked the launch of the Justice for Juveniles project, UP Zambia’s first initiative funded by the German Embassy. With these funds, UP Zambia established its first official staff and maintained a daily presence in Lusaka’s Juvenile Courts. Volunteers interviewed children in holding cells before court appearances, providing child-friendly explanations of the proceedings. Saturday prison visits allowed for in-depth conversations about the children’s cases, leading to more effective planning and support.
Story Highlight in 2017
A13-year-old AG, who, during a short visit from Kasama, joined local kids to play football. His life took an unexpected turn when someone shouted “thief” as he chased a ball into a yard. Arrested and unable to contact his family, AG spent months in police cells before being brought to court on charges of trespass. Despite a maximum sentence of three months for trespass, AG was detained for eight months. UP Zambia interns assisted in locating his family, ultimately reuniting him with his siblings through social media efforts.
2018: Expanding Legal Support
In 2018, UP Zambia partnered with the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany under the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Enhanced Justice Delivery (PLEED). This partnership led to the launch of legal help desks at Lusaka Remand, Lusaka Central, and Lusaka Central Female Correctional Facilities. The initiative aimed to provide better legal services to children, men, and women, focusing on vulnerable populations and decongesting the correctional facilities. This project expanded the team beyond interns to include team leaders and legal assistants, enhancing problem-solving capabilities and impact.
Five days a week, UP Zambia interns were present at Lusaka’s juvenile court sessions, assisting children and their families with court proceedings, thereby reinforcing the organization’s commitment to accessible legal support.
2019: The Rise Again Project
Recognizing that incarcerated children needed more than legal representation, UP Zambia established the Social Support Team in 2019. In collaboration with the European Union and Build it International Zambia, the team launched the Rise Again Project. This initiative offered vocational training and social support to children in conflict with the law, facilitating successful community reintegration upon release. Targeting children aged 8 to 25 in Lusaka and Katombora Reformatory School, the project aimed to provide rehabilitation, employment opportunities, and economic empowerment. Additionally, correctional officers were sensitized to deliver key services that support children, ensuring a holistic approach to juvenile justice.
2020: Navigating Challenges During Covid-19
In 2020, as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, UP Zambia continued to offer free legal, mental health, and social services to incarcerated teens. The pandemic exacerbated overcrowding in Zambia’s prisons, limiting the possibility of social distancing. UP Zambia responded by promoting hygiene practices and providing each teen with soap and handwashing stations in juvenile areas of prisons in Lusaka.
The prisons also faced resource constraints concerning basic nutrition, with inmates relying on family and friends to supplement their diets. The suspension of family visitations during the pandemic further impacted food intake and social interactions for the children. To address this, UP Zambia collected donations to deliver weekly, filling the nutrition gap and providing notes of encouragement to remind the teens that they were not forgotten.
2021: Expanding Diversion and Child Protection Efforts
In 2021, the Diversion and Child Protection Team, initially piloted in 2020, formalized its efforts with funding from UNICEF under the Ufulu Project. The team expanded its work at police stations and posts in Lusaka, Kitwe, and Ndola, aiming to reduce the number of children in police detention. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) produced a Diversion Policy instructing police to offer diversion to children with offending behavior rather than send their cases to court and keep them in detention. UP Zambia’s team monitored children in police detention, facilitating mediation between children and complainants when police did not offer diversion, with consent from the police.
2022: Launching the Child Justice Helpline
Recognizing the challenges of reaching all police stations and courts to monitor cases of children in conflict with the law, UP Zambia launched a nationwide toll-free Child Justice Helpline with the short code 2046 on MTN and Zamtel in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. This helpline allowed community members to report cases of children facing legal issues, ensuring they received timely legal help and information, thereby extending UP Zambia’s reach and impact across the country.
Story highlight in 2022
In 2022, UP Zambia encountered Anita, a 17-year-old girl exhibiting behavior associated with trauma at the Legal Help Desk in Lusaka Central Female Correctional Facility. The Social Support Team conducted a thorough examination and uncovered evidence of abuse, which was shared with the Staff Attorney representing Anita. Armed with this critical information, the attorney advocated against a custodial sentence, emphasizing Anita’s psychological struggles and the need for support. The judge opted for probation with intensive care, providing Anita with the opportunity to address her issues and move forward with her life.
2023: Implementing the Children’s Code Act
In 2023, a priority focus of UP Zambia’s work was to spread awareness about the Children’s Code Act No 12 of 2022 and the importance of applying the law to ensure children’s rights are upheld.
UP Zambia litigated a case that set a precedent on access to bail for children. Using the Children’s Code Act that is premised on the rights and best interest of the child, an UP Zambia Staff Attorney successfully got bail granted for a child who was charged with an offence that previously was not bailable. This application established that for children, the Children’s Code Act takes precedence over other criminal justice laws.
As UP Zambia has celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024, we are reflecting on a decade of transformative impact in the lives of children within Zambia’s child justice system. From a small act of kindness to a comprehensive movement for change, UP Zambia has continued embodying the spirit of “Remember me,” advocating for the most vulnerable and championing justice and compassion. As the journey continues, UP Zambia remains committed to making a difference, one child at a time, ensuring that no child in the justice system is forgotten.