Shelf
Her Story
Lived experience, told in the first person.
TWSC Submission: The Day I Lost My Baby and My Uterus
Her childhood was a complicated one. Raised in a polygamous family, Rosa’s father worked in the city while her biological mother lived in the village. Rosa lived in the city with her father and stepmother because she had an eye problem that required frequent treatment at a hospital.
Learning to Speak Again: How This Woman's Story Reminds us that Anything is Possible
I met Shalena almost 3 years ago at a women's conference called The Tell Your Story Conference by Chandi Rae in Dayton, Ohio. There was something about her that seemed so genuine and so hungry for her purpose. As we engaged in conversation, Shalena began to talk about how she had gotten into the conference. After just a few minutes of speaking with her, I knew I had to intervie
Finding Love as a Single Mom of 5 After an Abusive Marriage
Caroline Gulubani grew up in Bulawayo and has two younger siblings who live in Victoria Falls. They later relocated to the resort town of Victoria Falls, which is where she attended school. It was after completing secondary school that she met her first husband. She narrated to The Weight She Carries what transpired in her first marriage. This is her story:
TWSC Submission: Growing up Under the Shame of a False Narrative
Imagine having to live twenty years of your life believing that you have a chronic illness, only for you to find out the truth at a clinic. The following story is about 31-year-old Sarah* from Uganda who grew up thinking she was HIV-positive because her family jumped to conclusions. Sarah faced a lot of discrimination and stigma from family members and almost lost her self-este
How This Woman's Story Reminds us it's Never Too Late to Tell Your Story
Today I am reminded of a woman I interviewed earlier this year named Claire Wambui. Her voice was bubbly and her laugh infectious. As she began to tell me about who is today, she sounded very polished and had a great understanding of who she is and what she brings to the table professionally.
TWSC Submission: A Forced Marriage Didn't Stop me from Becoming who I Wanted to be
My name is Alice Tagwira. I was raised in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. I hold a higher diploma in business administration and I’m still pursuing my education. I am a business owner, a social entrepreneur, philanthropist and feminist. My organization She Glows was officially registered in 2020.
Playwright Thembi Moyo Shares How She Emerged Stronger After Her Greatest Pain
Thembi Moyo, an internationally acclaimed playwright, shared with The Weight She Carries how she managed to let the pain of her loss shape her into the woman she has now become. She walked us through her journey.
TWSC Submission: How I Picked Myself up After Tragedy and Heartache
Constance Gwarawaziva, a 35-year-old single mother of two beautiful children, has had the odds against her time and time again. But with tears in her eyes and determination in her heart, she has overcome by investing in herself under very difficult circumstances. She talked to The Weight She Carries and walked us through her journey so far
Phillipa Sibanda Mandisodza Discusses Giving Up Six-figure Income to Serve Her Home Country
Phillipa Sibanda Mandisodza is a health professional and social impact entrepreneur who gave up her six-figure income in California to help rebuild the healthcare system in her home country Zimbabwe. She spent the past 15 years working in the healthcare field as a respiratory care practitioner and led healthcare projects such as clinic start-ups, robotics in intensive care sett
How This Woman Transformed Her Life and Found Her Purpose After Divorce
When her marriage fell apart seven years ago, Gloria F. Chivaenzi found herself broken and devastated. But in the midst of her pain, she chose to care for her body and value herself more. Today, she is on a mission to remind women, particularly single mothers, that they are precious and valuable. This is her story in her own words:
From Teen Mom to Award-Nominated Author & Businesswoman
Nonduduzo Ncube is a 30-year-old author who was born in Beitbridge, a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. However, she was raised in Bulawayo, the second-largest city. She went to Mpopoma High School and was raised by very strict parents.
How Breast Cancer Survivor Lucky Ndanu Learned to Love Her Body After Losing Her Breast
She was in her final year of college when she felt a lump in her right breast. Then came the diagnosis: breast cancer. She was just 22. It didn’t seem real; it couldn’t be. Life was just beginning, and like her peers, she had plans to take the world by storm. What started out as a small lump would drastically alter her body but also introduce her to a new woman she has grown to