project
Dambo Lathu
Making a Difference
Dambo Lathu made a measurable impact on adolescent health knowledge and attitudes in Eastern Province. PrEP awareness among student participants surged by 620%, while understanding of the importance of adherence to PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis), rose from 53.8% to 92.4%. Awareness of condoms as an HIV prevention method climbed to 90.5%, and knowledge of One-Stop Centers increased by 22 percentage points among students.
Dambu Lathu blended the story and art of a powerful comic book with narration from a local star and facilitated dialogue with experts. The project transformed classrooms into safe spaces for learning and reflection—demonstrating how culturally grounded storytelling can drive powerful health and social outcomes.
Dambo Lathu: Drawing New Futures in Eastern Province
What if a comic book could spark a movement? Dambo Lathu (“Our Swamp”) is no ordinary comic—it’s a tool for change. In Zambia’s Eastern Province, this four-part series brought urgent conversations about HIV, early marriage, and teen pregnancy into classrooms, igniting powerful dialogues among students. Through vivid comic panels and live discussions, the series gave youth the chance to see their realities reflected and transform their futures. See how this comic book series is shifting culture—one class at a time.
Rights of Women and Girls
Building global sustainability for today and for tomorrow all begins with the rights of women and girls. The right to education, economic independence, and reproductive autonomy are the building blocks and must-haves for gender equality and a climate-conscious world.
In Eastern Province, where teenage pregnancy affects nearly 40% of girls and early marriage is still widespread, PMC-Zambia developed a creative solution to engage youth on health and rights. Dambo Lathu (“Our Swamp”) is a four-part comic book series designed to be seen and heard, not just read. Through bold visuals and local language narration, the stories explored HIV prevention, PrEP, early marriage, and gender-based violence. The project aimed to create a safe space for students to reflect on real-life issues and open up conversations that are often considered taboo. By using storytelling to center local experiences, Dambo Lathu helped bridge the gap between information and understanding—offering a relatable, youth-friendly entry point into critical health topics. The series gave students the tools and confidence to imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities.
Over a three-month period, PMC-Zambia implemented Dambo Lathu in nine schools across Katete and Chadiza districts in Eastern Province. Each school received 16 interactive sessions, where comic panels were projected on classroom walls and narrated aloud in Chichewa.
The 45-minute to one-hour sessions were followed by facilitated discussions that encouraged students to engage with the themes, ask questions, and share their perspectives. The project targeted youth ages 10 to 19 and was designed in collaboration with school officials and community leaders to ensure cultural relevance.
By combining visual storytelling with structured dialogue, the program created an immersive educational experience. It provided accurate information in a format that felt familiar and safe, while encouraging students to think critically about topics like PrEP, consent, and gender roles.
Dambo Lathu made a measurable impact. PrEP knowledge rose to 74.9% among students—a 620% increase. Agreement on the importance of PrEP adherence jumped from 53.8% to 92.4%. Awareness of One-Stop Centers climbed to 48.5%, with a 22-point gain among students. Condom awareness as an HIV prevention method increased from 74.3% to 90.5%, with a 13.7-point rise among students and 26.3 points among community members.
The project’s visual and interactive format helped students connect personally to the content, and post-session discussions sparked honest conversations around topics often left unspoken. In classrooms across Katete and Chadiza, students saw their realities reflected—and their futures reimagined—through comic panels projected high on the walls, inspiring change through connection, curiosity, and community dialogue.
