Status: Obtaining Funding
Organization: Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA) – Zambia
Background/Context:
Identifying effective, faith-based approaches to protect the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of youth in Zambia is critical at a time when youth continue to battle mental health struggles with very limited community resources. There is an opportunity for local congregations to step in and support youth, but it is important to carefully and appropriately integrate cultural and contextual factors into any recommended program.
In 2024, a team of pastors, health leaders, researchers, and community members in Zambia gathered together to design a three-phased project that would result in the development and validation of age-appropriate Bible study lessons covering a wide range of topics from mental health, nutrition, alcohol and substance to spirituality and career guidance for youth attending LCCA churches in Zambia.
Research Questions: for Phase 1:
What are the barriers and facilitators associated with physical, emotional, and spiritual health among the youth aged 10 to 35 in Zambia? With additional funding, the team is also willing to expand their efforts to include youth in Malawi.
Study Aims:
- Identify the life challenges faced by the youth aged between 10 and 35 attending LCCA congregation in Zambia (and Malawi).
- Understand the barriers and facilitators to accessing services related to the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of youth in Zambia (and Malawi).
Impact of Phase 1:
LCCA leaders are aware of the challenges and facilitators to the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the youth in Zambia (and Malawi) that can guide future church programs to serve their community.
Open Positions:
1 Research Scholar Consultant – Adolescent development expert to assist with study refinement/data analysis
1 Virtual Research Assistant – (in final stage) Manuscript preparation
Timeline for Phase 1: January 2025 – December 2026
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Project Update: The study team completed a preliminary workshop earlier this year that helped to establish research partnerships within Zambia and develop the research protocol with well-defined methods and team members collaborating between the local university and church leaders. They will be ready to begin in 2025 if funding becomes available for this project, and we are excited about the possibility of seeing this scholarly collaboration come to life.