Where

Zambia

Why

Reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women by helping girls overcome the challenges of adolescence and stay in school.

Funded by

PACT with funds from USAID

When

2016–2019

What

Despite progress in the global HIV/AIDS response, gender and age disparities have persisted. In sub-Saharan Africa, where girls and young women have accounted for as much as 74 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents, USAID joined with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Girl Effect, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead Sciences, and ViiV Healthcare in an ambitious US$385 million partnership to address the disproportionately high HIV prevalence among young women. The initiative, known as DREAMS (“Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe”), involves targeted projects in 10 sub-Saharan African countries; CMMB is active in two.

In Zambia, CMMB has established DREAMS centers—drop-in “safe spaces” where cohorts of girls are mentored in life skills following an evidence-informed curriculum. Adolescent girls are encouraged to test for HIV and are counseled on the risk of HIV infection and prevention techniques.

Impact Stories

Read a collection of stories about girls whose lives have changed thanks to DREAMS