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Register Here : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wa5SD2SVSIadXa3YFRBcwQ

Moderated by Former Senator, The Honourable Marilou McPhedran, CFUW is hosting a special webinar featuring acclaimed Zambian novelist Mubanga Kalimamukwento in conversation with Leslie Wells,  Deputy Director, Program Partnerships at the Stephen Lewis Foundation  and CFUW Board members.  Together, we will discuss the challenges confronting women and girls in Zambia and the impact of the Young, Happy, Healthy & Safe initiative, CFUW’s 2025–2027 International Service Project.

CFUW is delighted to be partnering with Mabanga Kalimamukwento for this webinar.  Mubanga’s most recent novel The Shipikisha Club features the stories of three generations of women, digging deep into love, lust, shame, and the pressure on women to maintain a “perfect” marriage. It shows how cultural and religious expectations in Zambia can trap women in cycles of silence and endurance.

Coupled with these cultural expectations, the HIV epidemic continues to affect many communities in Africa, particularly women and girls facing barriers such as poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to education and healthcare. Community-led programs in rural Eastern Zambia, supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, help provide prevention, treatment, and support for those most affected.

At the heart of this conversation are two interconnected themes: the power of women’s voices and the importance of creating conditions in which women and girls can exercise agency over their own lives, health, and futures. Through literature, advocacy, and community-led action, we will explore what it means to break cycles of silence and inequality—and how supporting women and girls to be informed, healthy, safe, and empowered can create lasting change for individuals, families, and communities.

Community-led programs in rural Eastern Zambia, supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, are helping to provide HIV prevention, treatment, and support to those most affected. This webinar offers an opportunity to learn more about these challenges, hear directly from those working to address them, and deepen our understanding of the importance of community-led solutions.

👥 Meet the Panel