She is a storyteller and disrupter of the film industry. Ngosa is the producer who likes to tell real stories. Stories with power to change societies. In the episode she describes how her career took off with a documentary screening on Zambia’s national football team at the film festival in Cannes, and what inspires her. She shares how being sexual harassed made her push even more, why she is celibate and her that spreading your values and DNA in something you love does not necessarily mean that has to mean children. She describes herself by her production company name Purple Tembo simply because she sees herself as a majestic creature inspired by the history of matriarchs running through her veins. We can get inspired by Ngosa to put ourselves first more often: “it is sometimes the least selfish thing to do and also, to never stop chasing our dreams, because when you achieve something you’re closer to achieve everything.”

“We have to fight so that the majority that holds the voice brakes.”

A loud rebel that like to question rules, that is how Stu describes herself. When she started Zambian Feminists she wanted to create a space for women to tell their stories and to find their voices. And she has definitely found her own. In the episode she talks about how the patriarchy affects women and why we should liberate our bodies and talk more about sex. She speaks up because she is the brave stupid woman who is going to take the fall so that other women can have the liberties she is fighting for. Let Stu inspire you how to flourish in your own essence.

"Another woman's success does not take away yours, another woman’s beauty does not take away yours, instead we can actually complement each other and we don’t need to be in competition with each other at all."

She found her dream and she kept it. With no money, but a lot of courage and passion she started the fashion business Finders Keepers with her sister Lydia. A thrift shop they today co-owns and turns into a street market every month gathering business es in Lusaka. . Her advice to anyone with a dream? Just start where you are, and everything will fall into place. In this episode she recognizes topics like rape and body shaming, but also female sexuality: As women we need to own our flame. Listen if you want to be fulfilled with power, and don’t forget to be as quirky as Marian. Indeed.

“When you’re on a plane, they tell you to put on the oxygen mask on yourself before you can help someone else. That’s how we should be living our lives. You have to make sure you are okay mentally emotionally, physically, spiritually before you can extend yourself to others”

She believes in the power of choice. Herself, she chooses to start conversations through media production and poetry. In this episode she exposes how being sexual assaulted both as a child and as a university student affected her. Why she always uses double contraceptive methods and why she wants to raise awareness about mental health. Leelee is a living proof that you can conquer every obstacle and that even if life didn’t turn out how you wanted or expected it too, in the end it’s going to turn out so much better.

“Period is a wonderful thing. Girls should celebrate their period.”

She wishes a happy period for everyone. Growing up she had a negative attitude towards menstruation and no one would listen to her questions about becoming a woman. Today she is the change she wanted to see. Fwilane teaches girls how to take care of their vagina and how to embrace their period, as she is working for Project Luangwa producing reusable pads called Ufulu (Freedom). Additionally, she includes boys in the discussion to create understanding between the genders, an initiative that invited her to speak in the UN to inspire on the theme. In the episode she explains how menstruation and ancient traditions prevent girls from receiving the education they are entitled to. Happy period!

“Realize that your disadvantages are actually your superpowers. Claim them. Own them.”

Do you need a pep talk in order to take the next step in your life? Do you have a dream but don’t know how to achieve it? Let Priscilla change your mindset in order to take you further. Start with the question “What makes your heart sing?” But what makes Priscilla’s heart sing? Making an impact in young people’s life. As an Innovation Officer at UNICEF she wants to break the taboo regarding sex, using her own experience of being pregnant before marriage as fuel. She encourages women to break barriers, create their own space and live an unboxed life. She is living her unboxed life. You can do the same.

She is a woman eager to improve society through her weekly radio program and organization “Visionary Youths for Change”. Why? In her childhood she had to fetch water at 5am every day because of water drought. More crucially, in 2016 she lost her sisters due to maternal complications after twelve months of pregnancy. Beatrice wants to break the taboo regarding maternal health because she believes that a woman’s health is everybody’s agenda. In the episode she points out how important it is to speak out and to believe in yourself, because “you will doubt yourself until it is done”.

Alina is strength personified. She managed to turn the pain from her background into power and at 16 she started Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEEP), an organization where girls and women can learn self-development skills in order to become independent. It is also a place where stories are safe to tell. In the episode we hear stories from several women involving forced married at a young age because of pregnancy, about unsafe abortion and sexual abuse. Stories on how lack of information on contraception and abortion can lead to severe complications and death. Let this episode inspire you to know better and to do better, as said in the episode: "Once women get out of the mindset that has been set for us, taking a role of being the lesser person, we will realize our potential. That we can be greater and do greater than the ones before us. Because we can."

Abortion is legal in Zambia, it is safe with the right help. Contact WEEP or withsisters.org if you need to talk to someone about the stories you just head or to better understand your choices of contraception methods. 

“I don’t want more children, I have stuff to do!”

To reach equality we need to understand our power. Remove the taboo talk from periods, contraceptives and sex. Because when we do, we can empower women. That is the kind of society Lulu wishes for. She is a social entrepreneur - co-founder of Afrishop - and a health advocate who wants to make the world a better place by raising awareness about things she wishes she knew before. In the episode she talks about how being a single pregnant woman affected her and how traditions tend to diminish women’s potential. She is a feminist because she believes in her power and she would like to influence other women to acknowledge their power as well. 

Welcome to Empower W/Sisters!

In this season we will hear life advice and intimate stories from pioneering health advocates, social entrepreneurs and media personalities in Zambia. Stories about owning your rights and daring to dream, stories on inspiring life choices, sex, pregnancies, contraception, challenges, unfair traditions and abuse - all with the purpose of using their voice to mobilize change. Dr. Beatrice Bergdahl is your host and in this episode you will get an introduction to the ten episodes following this. Subscribe and act with us to empower locally and inspire globally. 

Visit withhoof.com/withsisters for more.