Across Borders, One Voice at a Time; How one story connected me to Girls, women in Malawi

This is a Story Telling Experience from -

Jackie Iwu, CEO of Agwamma Media Consulting, Abuja, Nigeria,

Founder- Agwamma Women outreach Africa.

I am Nigerian, but some of the most transformative moments of my life happened far beyond my country—through stories that crossed borders and through voices that refused to remain silent.

The message came quietly. A young girl in Malawi reached out with a question about her body—one she had been carrying painfully alone.

As I read her words, I felt a familiar ache. Not because the question was difficult, but because I understood what it represented- silence, stigma, and the fear of being judged for simply growing into womanhood.

In that moment, geography no longer mattered. What mattered was that she trusted her voice enough to ask—and that someone had to answer. That person also had to be me and I am happy I did.

For a long time, I questioned my place. I am Nigerian—what right did I have to speak into the lives of girls in Malawi? Would my voice be welcomed, or dismissed? These doubts followed me closely, urging me to stay safe, quiet, and distant. But the more stories I encountered, the clearer it became: silence was part of the problem.

That realization marked a turning point in my life and Career Journey.

I chose to speak—not as an outsider, but as a woman deeply connected to the experiences of girls, women navigating shame, misinformation, and neglect around menstrual health.

Through storytelling, I began to share what many girls could not say aloud. What started as written words soon evolved into action.

Through Agwamma Women Outreach Africa, I initiated and amplified conversations around Menstrual Health Education (MHE) in Malawi, focusing on dignity, awareness, and safe dialogue for girls and young women. Rather than imposing solutions, I listened. I learned that real change begins when girls feel seen, heard, and respected.

The impact was not loud, but it was real. Girls asked questions without fear. Conversations replaced silence. Awareness replaced shame. Storytelling became more than expression—it became intervention.

World Pulse played a defining role in this journey. It offered a platform where lived experiences were valued, and where my voice—rooted in empathy and action—could reach a global audience. When my Malawi MHE initiative was recognized with a World Pulse award, I felt more than honored. I felt affirmed.

Affirmed, that stories can build bridges. Affirmed that borders do not limit compassion or responsibility to impact lives.

Most importantly, I changed.

I no longer see storytelling as something I do—it is something I owe. A responsibility to girls, youths, women who are still whispering questions into the dark. A commitment to women and youth whose realities deserve visibility.

Through Agwamma Women Outreach Africa, I continue to use storytelling as a tool for connection, advocacy, and community-driven solutions.

I tell stories because somewhere, a girl is waiting to feel safe enough to speak. And if my voice—shaped by experience, purpose, and hope—can reach her across borders, then it is a voice worth using.

🟢I will forever continue to be that woman confidently giving hope, listening ears, love and voice to girls, youths, women not just in Malawi but around the world.🟡

©️2026Jackie Iwu|Agwamma Women outreach Africa