Ten years ago, when Barbara first walked through the doors of the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), she had just one goal in mind: to find a safe place to spend time after school. That simple decision became the foundation to her fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. Today, Barbara is a Registered Public Health Nurse and a proud graduate of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, thanks to the College Scholarship Fund at AYC’s Learning & Leadership Centre in Kafue, Zambia.

As we close out 2025, Amos Youth Centre (AYC) reflects on a year defined by growth, resilience, and collective action. This year reaffirmed our belief that sustainable community transformation is driven by strong partnerships, active community involvement, and a shared commitment to empowering young people, women, and families. Despite challenges, 2025 was a year of meaningful milestones that strengthened our programs and deepened our impact.

We know that when children and youth are hungry they have difficulty concentrating and learning. Food security has always been an important part of our mission at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) - that is why we serve over 350 hot, nutritious meals a day. 

For years, in partnership with the African Education Program, our longest standing partner, we have envisioned a space where the students and families we serve in Kafue could gain the knowledge and tools to become more food secure.

Violet Mukumbwa embodies the power of giving back. As the Entrepreneurship Manager at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), she has successfully trained 10 cohorts and empowered over 270 women through the Women’s Business Training. Violet’s connection to AYC is deeply personal: she is a successful alumna who returned home. Today, she is not only a key leader at the Learning & Leadership Center but also a university student pursuing a Bachelor of Administration at the University of Zambia. Her journey, from a shy student to a confident manager, is a testament to the transformative environment AYC creates.