Although Zambia is known for its natural beauty and political stability, almost 60 percent of Zambians live below the poverty line and must contend with limited access to clean water, proper sanitation, and inadequate medical care.
Recently, Zambia has experienced strong economic growth, but widespread and extreme poverty, high unemployment, and high birth rates have presented many challenges. Zambia continues to struggle with a history of HIV/AIDS, and a large portion of the population is currently infected. This has left hundreds of thousands of children orphaned and often impoverished, as many have no means to support themselves or learn life skills as they enter adulthood.