Women’s Voices: Plural, Varied, Amplified
“I’m five years older than Thapelo. When we were children and by ourselves, Thapelo and I would play dress up and pretend to have modelling shows. Thapelo never had to tell me who they are because I always knew, and we’ve always been close.” Shesmida Phori is a 28-year-old nurse who grew up with her sibling Thapelo Simushi in Omaruru and then Katima Mulilo. The eldest of three, she has… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO Namibian political and public voices have echoed decades-old claims that homosexuality is ‘un-African’ and a supposed ‘Western import’ inconsistent with local religious values. Last year, after a Supreme Court judgment that immigration law must recognize same-sex marriages conducted abroad, a surge in anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric was observed. The ruling catalyzed intensified debates on LGBTQI+ rights. Equality While the judgment affirmed our constitutional commitment to equality, it also revealed an… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO The discourse surrounding sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) predominantly centres on women, but it is imperative to acknowledge that men have an equally significant role to play in advancing SRHR. Erich Waly Hanadaob, a senior registered nurse at the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association, offers valuable insights into why it is crucial to engage men in efforts toward gender equality and reproductive health. Hanadaob asserts that it is… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO Namibia is a nation deeply rooted in cultural traditions and religious beliefs which often influence how individuals navigate their day-to-day lives. Within this context, discussions regarding sexuality and reproductive health bear the profound imprint of culture, tradition and religion, significantly impacting the wellbeing of individuals and communities. According to Mirjam Josef, a medical doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology, there is a pervasive silence in discourse around sexual… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO The intricate relationship between our mental states, our bodies, and how society perceives human sexuality remains an overlooked facet of sexual and reproductive health, however, psychology experts say our understanding of mental wellbeing deeply influences our approach to sexuality and sexual health. Emerita Malanguka, a seasoned clinical psychologist at the Care2Mind practice in Windhoek, delves into the mind-body connection within the context of sexuality and mental health. She… Keep Reading
Namibia’s law states that abortion is legal in cases of rape, incest, or where continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mental or physical health of the mother, or the life of the mother or foetus. The Maputo Protocol, which should form part of Namibia’s domestic law, says the same thing. It also says that African women have the right to choose how many children they have, when they have them,… Keep Reading
An analysis on the origins of sexual bigotry in Africa. • Jacinta Kasume Homophobia is the cultural and systemic fear of- or prejudice against homosexuals that sometimes manifests in oppressive legislature, or in bullying or premeditated violence against queer individuals. The term homophobia was coined by an American clinical psychologist, George Weinberg in his late 1960s book Society and the Healthy Homosexual. In the 19th century Western psychology began to… Keep Reading
![[PODCAST] For Ama, Episode 2 – Running Away From Home](https://sisternamibia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhatsApp-Image-2023-02-12-at-8.24.34-AM.jpeg)
“For Ama” is an immersive Namibian storytelling series that explores the topic of healing through different women’s life stories and experiences. The series addresses the topic of healing through various life stories, from elders to young women and women from different economic and cultural backgrounds. We have so much to learn from each other’s stories. “For Ama” is available on all platforms! Listen to a new story every Monday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or… Keep Reading
![[PODCAST] For Ama: A Namibian Storytelling Series](https://sisternamibia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AMA_COVER-1500x1500.jpeg)
Amara Evering “For Ama” is an immersive Namibian storytelling series that explores the topic of healing through different women’s life stories and experiences. The series addresses the topic of healing through various life stories, from elders to young women and women from different economic and cultural backgrounds. We have so much to learn from each other’s stories. “For Ama” is now available on all platforms! Listen to a new story every Monday… Keep Reading
August 2021 – Amara Evering My sister was finishing up packing in the hotel and me and my Mom decided to take one more walk along the beach. We were barefoot, all our bags were in the car, and most of that walk was spent in silence. On the way back, my Mom asked me “What is something really important that has happened in your life? What is a life… Keep Reading
Rosemary Nalisa For many learners in the Zambezi Region, access to education is limited by an incredibly practical hurdle: distance. These learners have to decide whether to stay home with their parents or guardians, or find accommodation at schools kilometres away in hopes of accessing better education. ‘Home service’ facilities are common in the rural areas of the region where they serve as accommodation facilities for learners whose homes are… Keep Reading
Rosemary Nalisa Teachers at several secondary schools in the Zambezi region have termed the teenage pregnancy situation as a “time-bomb” that needs to be remedied as soon as possible before it completely explodes. A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed to unsupervised makeshift hostels – dubbed ‘home service’ – and poverty as contributing factors. This teacher claims his school usually records between four to six teenage pregnancies among… Keep Reading
