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Aminata
Gba Kamara

If we are committed and consistent we can all ignite change.

@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik

Aminata
Gba Kamara

If we are committed and consistent we can all ignite change.

Aminata's Story

My life completely changed when my community contracted Ebola. I am now an entrepreneur and advocate of economic empowerment for women in Sierra Leone.

When the Ebola outbreak devastated Sierra Leone in 2014 I saw the full force of the chaos that ensued. I saw friends and family members, including my own mother – a nurse who had cared for the sick – die from the disease. Those who were left behind were incredibly vulnerable: often forced to marry, raped, or ostracized from school and community life out of fear of spreading Ebola. Following a 21-day quarantine, I was abandoned by my community, and, as a means to escape poverty and sexual exploitation, I moved from Freetown to Makeni with my brother. Here, I began a beading business to make ends meet. My beading work, which includes sandals and slippers, not only helped me and my brother financially, but gave me a new lease of life and a positive focus amidst the destabilization felt throughout Sierra Leone.

 

If we are committed and consistent we can all ignite change. 

 

I strongly believe in the potential for young women and men to escape poverty and exploitation through economic empowerment. I have seen first-hand the risks for children and women in the aftermath of a pandemic, with many forced into prostitution. To help combat these risks, I run workshops and campaigns in schools, providing career support and skills training sessions to help young people realize their talents.

 

I am passionate about sharing my story to inspire action from policymakers on SDGs 1, 3 and 5, and continue the conversation on the impact of deadly diseases on current – and future – generations of Africans.

Media pack

You can download Aminata’s story and headshot here. To contact Aminata about an interview or speaking at an event please contact us.

@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik