HORSHAM author Nkandu Beltz will launch her latest book I Have The Power at Cafe Jas on Friday night.
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Through the book, Beltz uses her life experiences to try to inspire readers.
"In a nutshell its about unlocking young people's brilliance through my story," she said.
"It's about looking at what's happening in the community and how you can make a positive impact by contributing to the community."
Beltz grew up in remote Katete in eastern Zambia.
"I lived with my grandfather who was the high commissioner for community development," she said.
"My grandfather would make food parcels and give them to us to go and deliver with my uncles to the families that were less fortunate.
"Those are the lessons that I learned very early on."
"I bring it out so that we can start talking about ending violence against women and domestic violence."
Beltz said she hopes to empower girls and women to stand up for their rights.
"When I was in school I was sexually abused by my headmaster and that is something at that particular time I thought I had no power to do anything about it," she said.
"It's a message that I've put in very strongly - every girl and child needs to know that they have power if anything similar happens they can either speak out or seek help immediately rather than trying to bottle up that pain.
"I bring it out so that we can start talking about ending violence against women and domestic violence."
Beltz is an advocate for social change and lived in southern Africa and Europe before moving to Kununurra.
She now lives in Horsham with her husband Erik, who is a doctor, and her three children Michelle, 10, Claire, 9, and Erik, 6.
Beltz said her experiences growing up in Africa helped her build resilience.
"I was surrounded by death and poverty at a very young age and you become, not desensitised, but you're aware that it's there and yet you still continue to live your life," she said.
She said education was the key to boosting gender quality.
"We need to empower girls and not only girls in Africa and Asia but also here in Australia," she said.
Beltz said her father was her biggest hero.
"He's the one that said to me 'Nkandu don't let anyone ever suppress your integrity and tell you what to do just because you're a girl'," she said.
"Having the support of my father to stand up to what was happening in my community was really good."
Beltz is the Greens candidate for Lowan.