Partners For Life Advancement and Education Promotion (PLAEP)

Partners for Life Advancement and Education Promotion (PLAEP), is a faith based non-profit organisation located in Kitwe, Zambia. The organization started in 2005 to partner with others in addressing the devastating effects of HIV in Kitwe communities and beyond. PLAEP core activities include HIV/Aids prevention services; economic strengthening initiatives for low income communities and individuals, particularly women and girls; livelihood and education support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Currently, PLAEP is reaching over 5000 individuals annually in the various activities we are implementing. These activities include; HIV/AIDS prevention services through community, school and health centre outreach; formation of community savings and lending groups; running a community school with over 600 children and establishing social enterprises. The inaugural PLAEP board identified HIV/AIDS as a country challenge that needed local attention. This would require the local community to come on board and respond to the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. These effects included children left in destitution because of loss of parents, ill health, stigma and discrimination, and alcohol and drug abuse, to name a few. The organization also looked into addressing the pre-disposing factors of HIV in the local communities that include the low uptake of biomedical services, poverty, gender-based violence, and alcohol and drug abuse. In this regard, PLAEP interventions are always integrated, to provide a multi-pronged approach to multi-faceted community challenges. We reach out to improve the lives of vulnerable and deprived individuals in our communities by helping to build incomes, provide education and contribute to reducing the cycle of poverty in families. We invest in undeserved communities through economic empowerment initiatives, education support for low income individuals and health initiatives.