Stephanie Linus Daily

Category: Features

  • No woman should die while trying to give birth to life!

    No woman should suffer the indignity of an obstetric fistula… No woman should die while trying to give birth to life!

    This has been my message and my mission since the time I discovered what fistula was and will continue to be until we eradicate fistula in Africa. It is definitely possible! Fistula was eradicated in North America, the UK, and western Europe in the early 1900s. This tells us that the capacity to eradicate the prolonged, obstructed labour that causes obstetric fistula has been in our hands for several generations.

    Tomorrow, May 23rd is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. This is another time to remind us all of our responsibilities in creating awareness about this tragic childbirth injury.

    To talk more about my work, I had an interview with Plus TV which will be aired tomorrow. I’m also very happy that a highly skilled surgeon and long term partner of the Extended Hands Foundation, Dr Sa’ad Idris was interviewed for this feature.

    Watch the interview tomorrow by 1:30pm on DSTV channel 408.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfHm-NhI_4/

    Have you watched DRY – the first world-class feature movie to bring Fistula to the big screen? CLICK HERE to get your copy!

  • Physical Distance Doesn’t Have To Mean Emotional Distance

    For many of us, the COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives and the way we relate with people around us almost overnight.

    We hear this term – social distancing – almost every day as a means of protecting ourselves from getting infected with the virus. But the truth is what we should really practice is physical distancing and not emotionally disentangling ourselves from our friends and loved ones. Yes, we’re keeping the physical distance between us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still emotionally connect.

    Sickness reminds us that we are all each other’s responsibility, but it can be painfully difficult to know how to enact those responsibilities when the physical distance is first and foremost among them. How do we help people when we need to limit physical contact with them? The answer is simple: Let’s focus on reducing physical contact while maintaining—to the extent possible—the social connections that help us thrive and stay healthy.

    Small steps can lead to big effects.

    Here are some of the ways I’ve been keeping that emotional connection with my loved ones:

    Phone Calls; Video Calls; Text messages; If you live in a place where you’re allowed to go outside, meet up with friends for walks or a run. Just remember to keep about two meters (six feet) between each other and avoid shaking hands.

    Not only can you emotionally connect during this period, you absolutely should! Check-in regularly on family, older parents, neighbors, friends, or relatives and let them know they are loved and valued.

    Amazonians, how have you been connecting with your loved ones emotionally during the pandemic?

  • Photos From The Fistula Awareness Campaign In Maiduguri

    Actress and human rights advocate Stephanie Linus has once again demonstrated an unrelenting fight against fistula and child marriage with her recent fistula awareness campaign in Borno State. Using her award-winning movie – DRY as a tool to connect with her audience, the actress pushed forward a message of fistula prevention and protection of the basic rights of a girl child.

    The movie was screened at a secondary school in the state to young female and male students as well as their educators. Asides from being a tool of information and awareness, the movie elicited an emotional response from most of the young girls who were able to connect with the story of Halima, the young fistula patient in the movie. Following the screening, many of them resolved shared their personal experiences and resolved that they wanted to be like Dr Zara, the heroine in the movie who fought hard for the rights of the girl child.

    DRY, a Next Page Productions movie has been recognized across the world as a tool to speak against outdated cultural norms, prejudices and push the world to do more to empower women and girls with the freedom, education and equal rights they deserve. The movie has been translated into Hausa in order to reach many Northern Nigerian communities.

    This screening was supported by the UNFPA, an organization where Ms. Linus serves as a Regional Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa.

    To watch DRY, simply CLICK HERE

  • DRY Is Now Available On Amazon Prime!

    I’m so thrilled to announce to StephanieDaily readers all over the world that DRY is now available on Amazon Prime! The movie, which brings to the fore, conversations about fistula, the girl-child, child marriage, gender equality and more, is now accessible to even more viewers.

    To rent or buy, simply CLICK HERE

    An inspiring true story of Zara, a successful doctor who lives in Wales, and Halima, a young 13 year old girl who is about to be wed in a rural part of Africa. However as time goes on Halima develops a disease, which she gets shunned for. Through out her journey she is some what alone until her path collides with Zara. The day they meet their lives change forever.

    Already, DRY has a 5-star review on Amazon!

    Don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon after you watch it. I’ll love to know what you think 🙂

  • GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable

    Today, 11 October marks the International Day of the Girl.

    The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

    Girls are not only moving from dreaming to achieving, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.

    As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

    Let’s commit to empowering girls and teaching them to believe in their dreams.

    A girl with a dream today can become a woman with a vision tomorrow.

    Girls are unscripted.
    Girls are unstoppable.
    Girls can do anything – and everything!

  • Enter For The iamAFRICA Short Film Competition on YouTube

    Here is an awesome opportunity for African filmmakers and content creators to launch their work into the limelight. I will be a judge in this short film competition which is a collaborative initiative between the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), The Africa Narrative at the University of Southern California Norman Lear Center, and YouTube.

    The initiative was launched to propel African content creators and their work into the mainstream consciousness of American and international audiences, who are all too often, exposed to media narratives of Africa that are widely distorted and shaped by non-Africans.

    The Award
    Filmmakers selected by a special jury will be given an extraordinary opportunity to embark on an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles, CA to attend the 28th Annual Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles on February 2020. While in California, winners will be the VIP guests of both the Pan African Film Festival and YouTube and will attend a variety of public and private events that showcase and promote their talents, including a public screening of each winning entry.

    An Audience Award will also be given to the semifinalist film that receives the most votes from the online public.

    Eligibility

    Production: Completed films must have been produced within the last three years. (after Jan 2017)
    Genre: All genres will be accepted
    Language: Must be English language or with English subtitles. If needed, please go HERE for YouTube subtitling tools.
    Length: The completed film must be less than 30mins (including film credits)
    Location: The completed film must be shot entirely on the African continent.
    Content: There are no content restrictions, however, all submitted film(s) must comply with the terms of use that govern the YouTube platform, which can be found HERE.
    Who Can Apply: Entrant(s)/Content Creator(s) must self identify as African and reside and work on the African continent
    Submission Fee: There is no submission cost for this competition.
    Submissions Deadline: Submissions are due no later than 11:59 pm on October 31, 2019.
    Brief Timeline: Up to 54 Semi-Finalists will be announced in November and showcased on the PAFF YouTube channel HERE. Up to 20 Finalists will be announced on December 2019. Competition Winners will be announced on January 2020.
    Terms and Conditions: Complete terms and conditions for iamAFRICA Short Film Competition HERE

    So, go ahead and send in your entries or share this information with people you know might be interested! Good luck!

  • Say No To Xenophobia

    Nigeria and South Africa are the continents two biggest hope. As the two largest economies, our nations should be working collaboratively to solve problems that threaten our progress as a continent such as climate change, institutional inefficiencies, and insecurity.

    Rather, in 2019, we’re witnessing yet another series of xenophobic attacks on enterprising Nigerians. 

    Humans have always migrated in search of greener pastures. In our case, Nigerians have been warm and welcoming hosts to South Africans coming to work in leadership roles in hospitality, or loyal patronizers of South African corporations in search of a piece of Africa’s biggest pie. In fact, many South African owned businesses receive upwards of 60% of their global revenue from the Nigerian consumer market. This contributes in no small way to their global reputation as a leading business hub. 

    The xenophobic actions being perpetrated towards Nigerians should not only result in protests and strong statements from both Federal Governments but should also result in a re-evaluation of our economic contributions to the development of a country in which our lives are consistently at risk in. The federal government should remind South Africa that without our massive consumer market, many of the companies which contribute to their GDP would not be as financially successful as they are. 
    The federal government should provide planes for any Nigerian in South Africa that wants to come home. 

    Borrowing from the examples of Malaysia, India, China, and Turkey the federal government should offer economic incentives for the repatriation of her citizens. 

    This is a tragedy. It is also a chance for the federal government to bolster local enterprise by investing in indigenous alternatives that can compete with South African brands on quality and service. 

  • Have A September To Remember

    Cheers to a new month, and another chance for us to get it right.

    I wish you a very happy new month full of God’s peace and divine blessings. I also wish you God’s full settlement in all areas you need them.

    May this new month mark the beginning of greater things in your life and family.

    Happy new month to you. May God keep you and your household safe, throughout the month.

    Have a September to Remember!!!

  • Monday Motivation: Get Up & Show Up!

    It’s a brand new week, lovelies…. time to get up and show up!

    We’re already almost halfway through the year. How are you doing with your goals? You might not be exactly where you want to be yet, however, with the right motivation, you can turn that attitude around and get excited for Monday to begin so you can feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in your life.

    I hope these quotes inspire you as you step into the day and the new week!

    “People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” 

     

    “This should be the spirit every Monday. Know that something good will always happen.”

     

    “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

  • SUNDAY THOTS: Be Encouraged!

    No matter what comes your way, God is not surprised. Your challenge was not sent to defeat you; it was sent to increase you.

    Difficulties and obstacles are God’s challenges to faith. When hindrances confront us in the path of duty, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith to fill with the fullness and all-sufficiency of Jesus.

    God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.

    I hope these words encourage someone who might be going through some difficult situation. Hold on and trust God in ALL situations. You will come out better. Be encouraged!