BORN SHORT LIVING TALL (BSLT): PRIORITY PROGRAMS 2026

Strategic Focus: Disability Inclusion, Youth Empowerment, Digital Access, Health Awareness & Leadership Development.

BSLT’s 2026 program portfolio is designed to address critical barriers facing youth and persons with disabilities in Zambia and across Africa; focusing on access, skills, health, dignity, and leadership.

  1. Digital Inclusion & Skills Empowerment for Youth with Disabilities

(FLAGSHIP PROGRAM – Quarter 1 | Jan–Mar 2026)

This flagship program equips youth with disabilities with essential digital, communication, and employability skills to enhance access to education, decent work, and participation in the digital economy. Many young people with disabilities remain excluded due to limited access to technology, training, and inclusive learning environments. BSLT addresses this gap through inclusive training and leadership development.

Key Focus Areas

  • Digital literacy and basic ICT skills
  • Assistive technology awareness and accessibility
  • Communication, confidence, and self-advocacy skills

Expected Impact

  • Improved digital confidence and employability
  • Increased access to education and economic opportunities
  • Stronger disability-inclusive youth leadership

SDGs: 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work), 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

  1. Arise Girls – Education, Protection & Empowerment Initiative

(Quarter 2 | Apr–Jun 2026)

Arise Girls empowers adolescent girls at risk of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and school dropout through mentorship, life-skills education, and community engagement. The program supports girls to remain in school, build confidence, and make informed life choices, while strengthening community support for girl-child education.

Key Focus Areas

  • Mentorship and life-skills training
  • Girl-child education advocacy
  • Safe spaces for learning and dialogue

Expected Impact

  • Increased school retention and attendance
  • Improved self-esteem and decision-making
  • Stronger community commitment to girls’ education

SDGs: 5 (Gender Equality), 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

  1. HIV Education, Prevention & Inclusion for Youth and Persons with Disabilities

(Quarter 4 | Oct–Dec 2026)

This program addresses HIV-related knowledge gaps, stigma, and exclusion among youth and persons with disabilities, groups often underserved in health education and prevention efforts. The initiative delivers accessible, rights-based HIV education, promotes prevention and testing, and strengthens community support systems.

Key Focus Areas

  • Disability-inclusive HIV education and awareness
  • Stigma reduction and rights-based health messaging
  • Linkages to testing, counseling, and support services

Expected Impact

  • Improved HIV knowledge and prevention practices
  • Reduced stigma affecting youth and persons with disabilities
  • Increased access to HIV-related health services

SDGs: 3 (Good Health & Well-being), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 5 (Gender Equality)

  1. Inclusive Youth Leadership, Economic Empowerment & Substance Abuse Prevention

(Quarter 3 | Jul–Sep 2026)

This program equips young people, including youth with disabilities with leadership, employability, and entrepreneurship skills, while addressing drug and substance abuse, a growing challenge affecting youth health, productivity, and social stability. Prevention education is integrated with mentorship, skills development, and positive peer engagement.

Key Focus Areas

  • Leadership and employability skills
  • Drug and substance abuse awareness and prevention
  • Mentorship, life skills, and youth-led community action

Expected Impact

  • Youth equipped with leadership and income-generating skills
  • Reduced risk behaviors related to substance abuse
  • Stronger, healthier, and more engaged youth leaders

SDGs: 8 (Decent Work), 4 (Quality Education), 3 (Good Health), 16 (Strong Institutions)

  1. Arise Magazine – Youth Empowerment & Inclusion Platform

(Ongoing – All Year 2026)

Arise Magazine is BSLT’s flagship digital platform for youth empowerment. In 2026, the magazine will be scaled to reach 1 million youths across Africa, serving as a delivery platform for leadership development, disability inclusion, health awareness, and positive social values.

Key Focus Areas

  • Inclusive, purpose-driven youth content
  • Disability-inclusive storytelling and advocacy
  • Continental digital partnerships and outreach

Expected Impact

  • Over 1,000,000 youths reached with empowering content
  • Amplified African youth voices and solutions
  • Increased awareness of inclusion, leadership, and social responsibility

SDGs: 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 17 (Partnerships)

Our Approach

BSLT programs are community-led, inclusive, and impact-driven. We prioritize:

  • Participation of persons with disabilities
  • Youth leadership and ownership
  • Accountability, learning, and measurable outcomes

Partnerships for sustainability and scale