Duration: April 2023 – Ongoing

Donor: Associazione La Goccia Odv

Cherished Home is ULEMU’s safe shelter for girls who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking, and other situations of severe vulnerability. Established in April 2023, the shelter provides immediate protection and temporary accommodation for children who can no longer remain safely within their families or communities.

Children are referred to Cherished Home by social welfare services, the police, healthcare facilities, and the One Stop Center in Kanyama whenever urgent protection measures are required. Many of the girls hosted at the shelter have experienced complex forms of violence, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, early pregnancies linked to abuse, and prolonged exposure to traumatic environments.

More than simply a place of safety, Cherished Home offers children the opportunity to begin a process of healing and recovery. Within a structured and nurturing environment, girls receive daily support from a multidisciplinary team of caregivers, social workers, and mental health professionals who work together to address their emotional, educational, social, and protection needs.

The shelter adopts an individualised approach for every child, ensuring access to psychosocial support, education, recreational activities, life-skills development, and assistance throughout legal and protection procedures when required. Through creative and educational activities, counselling sessions, and daily care, children are encouraged to rebuild self-confidence, develop healthy relationships, and regain a sense of stability and hope for the future.

Admission to Cherished Home is always temporary and focused on identifying the most appropriate long-term solution for each child. Depending on individual circumstances, this may include family reintegration, placement in boarding schools, transfer to alternative care facilities, or preparation for independent living for older adolescents.

Since opening its doors in 2023, Cherished Home has provided protection, care, and support to more than 100 girls and young children escaping situations of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Today, the shelter represents an important resource within Lusaka’s child protection system and a trusted partner for social welfare authorities and other protection stakeholders. In a context where violence against children often remains hidden or normalized, Cherished Home offers a safe space where girls can heal from trauma, rediscover their potential, and begin building a future free from violence.