This week Di and Nicola speak to the incredibly inspiring Aminata Conteh-Biger. Aminata was born and raised in Sierra Leone, where she lived a beautiful life with her family until the age of 18, when her whole world was turned upside down. She was kidnapped by rebel forces and abused by them for months during the civil war in her country, before being released and becoming one of the first Sierra Leonian refugees in Australia in the year 2000. Since then, it’s phenomenal what Aminata has been able to accomplish so far. She is the founder and CEO of the Aminata Maternal Foundation, an author, an inspirational speaker, an activist, a Special Representative for Australia UNHCR and the recipient of several humanitarian awards. Aminata is also a proud wife and mother of 2 beautiful children. 

In this episode we hear Aminata’s powerful story of growing up in Sierra Leone in a loving family, and the beautiful values that were instilled in her and her siblings by their remarkable father. Aminata shares with us the horrifying moment when she was kidnapped by rebel soldiers at the age of 18, the abuse that followed, and then the miracle which led to her release.

Aminata talks about what it was like coming to Australia, a place she had never heard of, as one of the first refugees from Sierra Leone and the culture shock that followed. We also hear the beautiful story of when she met her husband and the love letter he wrote that took her years to find. 

After complications with the birth of Aminata’s first daughter Sarafina, Aminata began learning more about maternal health and was motivated to set up the Aminata Maternal Foundation to help provide maternal healthcare and education for women in Sierra Leone. Aminata opens up about what it’s been like to witness the life-changing impact that her foundation is having on these girls and young women. 

At the end of the episode, we also hear more about Aminata’s passion for fashion and the amazing work she does with The Social Outfit, a social enterprise that supports refugees to kick-start their Australian careers by making and selling incredible clothes. 

We are so grateful to Aminata for the work that she’s doing and for sharing her story with us. We hope that you enjoy this powerful conversation as much as we did. 

Follow Aminata on IG, on Facebook and on LinkedIn here

Get a copy of Aminata’s book Rising Heart here

Find out more about Aminata Maternal Foundation here

Hire Aminata to speak here 

Follow The Social Outfit on Instagram here

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