The young girls (pictured) are part of a UK aid scheme in Zambia - the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Programme. The initiative is supporting 10,000 adolescent girls by using ‘safe spaces’ in which girls will meet weekly with a mentor – usually a young woman from the community - to build their social networks, self-esteem, confidence, communication and life skills.

Over a quarter of girls aged 15-24 years nationwide in Zambia have experienced violence. And, nearly half of Zambian women have been subjected to violence.

International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone met with these young people to listen to their views as part of her trip to mark the 16 days of activism against violence against women and girls.

In a recent survey of schoolgirls in Lusaka, Zambia, 53% reported that girls in their school have experienced sexual harassment and 86% reported pressure to do things that they do not want to do in exchange for money. Girls aged 15-24 in Zambia are twice as likely to be infected with HIV as their male counterparts.

Follow the visit to Zambia

Follow Lynne Featherstone's visit in Zambia on her blog for the Huffington Post UK with live updates on Twitter @DFID_UK and @lfeatherstone.

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