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ABC Conversations Interview- Surviving kidnap in Sierra Leone

Our CEO & Founder Aminata Conteh-Biger shares her personal story with ABC Conversation's Richard Fidler. She talks about survival and resilience from being kidnapped during the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Aminata shares about her experience of being captured and abused by rebel soldiers, her release, and journey to Australia as a refugee.

After the birth of her first daughter, Aminata also shares her journey in founding the Aminata Maternal Foundation and it's mission to help improve maternal health for women in Sierra Leone.

"Today was one of those days that I got to remind myself to never forget how far I have come and, most importantly, to never forget my strength and what I am capable of. I am so grateful for my life every single day." - Aminata Conteh-Biger

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READ MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

Chrismas Appeal

December 13, 2020

Mabinty’s story is one of despair and hope. Mabinty was 16 years old and in Junior Secondary School when she was living with her sister and husband. She was brought to Freetown by her elder sister at the age of seven so that she could access education in the hope of a brighter future. One […]

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We’ve done it!

November 26, 2020

And just like that, we’re finished! Over two weeks, hundreds of us have walked thousands of kilometres as we came together a community to walk side by side with mums and babies living in poverty in Sierra Leone. My heart is full thinking of Jakia who inspired this event. It is amazing to think that […]

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You’ve set the pace

November 2, 2020

We can’t believe how much support we’ve already received for our #AMFWalkingChallenge2020. So many people have been willing to help us fundraise for the much needed maternal health support during the COVID-19 crisis in Sierra Leone. I am so touched by everyone’s words of kindness and open hearts to a cause that is so close […]

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Aminata on BBC World Service

October 13, 2020

“A mother and a child dying, that never made sense to me. How can women still continue  to struggle for something that is preventable? No mother or their baby should die in childbirth just because of poverty” – Aminata Conteh-Biger In an in-depth interview with BBC Outlook, Aminata talks about her childhood in Sierra Leone, […]

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‘Rising Heart’ and raising spirits in the Women’s Weekly

August 14, 2020

Have you seen the September issue of Women’s Weekly yet? This month features a six-page special on the life & journey of Aminata. She talks about her life during the war in Sierra Leone, her settlement in Australia as a refugee, and what inspired her to start the Aminata Maternal Foundation. Having our Founder in […]

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Available to order

July 28, 2020

29 sleeps to go until my memoir, Rising Heart, will be released & in your hands! I feel so excited and humbled to share my story with you. Order now You know that my story is a message of hope and resilience despite experiencing extreme trauma. My dream is for every mother in Sierra Leone to […]

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aminatafoundation

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Apr 13

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"It is important for me to support ovarian cancer simply because it is a woman issue. I realise that anything that affects any woman will affect me too. Women issues are not talked about and I personally feel like there is more noise then action. Also as a woman of colour we find it difficult to talk about diseases. Where I come from, in Sierra Leone West Africa, there is absolutely no knowledge, research or cures for any type of cancers. So again, any women issues, I make my issues.⁠ ⁠ Since the beginning of time, any issues or concerns that are about women's bodies, feel like taboos. Women even find it difficult to talk to each other. We as women also have to invest in our courses, especially when it comes to our wellbeing."⁠ 
— author, mother and former refugee turned CEO @aminata_conteh_biger on the talk with @camillaandmarc to support ground-breaking research for an early detection test ❤️❤️ Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed too late. Improved early detection, just as treatment, is key in the fight against the disease for more women than ever surviving it. To donate now, please follow the link: https://ovaries-talk-about-them.raisely.com/. Photo: Our fierce advocate for women @aminata_conteh_biger along with her children Serafina and Matissee.

"It is important for me to support ovarian cancer simply because it is a woman issue. I realise that anything that affects any woman will affect me too. Women issues are not talked about and I personally feel like there is more noise then action. Also as a woman of colour we find it difficult to talk about diseases. Where I come from, in Sierra Leone West Africa, there is absolutely no knowledge, research or cures for any type of cancers. So again, any women issues, I make my issues.⁠
⁠
Since the beginning of time, any issues or concerns that are about women's bodies, feel like taboos. Women even find it difficult to talk to each other. We as women also have to invest in our courses, especially when it comes to our wellbeing."⁠

— author, mother and former refugee turned CEO @aminata_conteh_biger on the talk with @camillaandmarc to support ground-breaking research for an early detection test ❤️❤️

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed too late. Improved early detection, just as treatment, is key in the fight against the disease for more women than ever surviving it. To donate now, please follow the link: https://ovaries-talk-about-them.raisely.com/.

Photo: Our fierce advocate for women @aminata_conteh_biger along with her children Serafina and Matissee. ...

aminatafoundation

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Apr 11

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The power of storytelling is truly unmatched. In the podcast by BroadTalk, our incredible CEO @aminata_conteh_biger spoke about her kidnapping and proved her bravery that predominated as a then-18-year-old shines through to this day. However, sex slavery and rape are not all that define a person. "I didn't want to be pitied, or for people to help me because they knew my story" (Aminata during the BroadTalk Podcast). Sharing experiences through discourse is vital to speaking out against human rights issues globally. Unfortunately, the way society receives the story can depend on the ethnicity of the storyteller. We continue to ask ourselves why (in 2021 especially) does the validity of a story become devalued on the basis of one’s appearance? We must appreciate the vulnerability it takes to open up about one's experiences, the good and the not-so-good, but simultaneously respect that it is their story to tell - another compelling notion explored by Amii in the podcast. Have you listened to the podcast yet? Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or online on the BroadAgenda website #broadtalk #genderequality #aminatamaternalfoundation #storytelling #humanrights #podcast #rapeawareness

The power of storytelling is truly unmatched. In the podcast by BroadTalk, our incredible CEO @aminata_conteh_biger spoke about her kidnapping and proved her bravery that predominated as a then-18-year-old shines through to this day.

However, sex slavery and rape are not all that define a person. "I didn't want to be pitied, or for people to help me because they knew my story" (Aminata during the BroadTalk Podcast).

Sharing experiences through discourse is vital to speaking out against human rights issues globally. Unfortunately, the way society receives the story can depend on the ethnicity of the storyteller. We continue to ask ourselves why (in 2021 especially) does the validity of a story become devalued on the basis of one’s appearance? We must appreciate the vulnerability it takes to open up about one's experiences, the good and the not-so-good, but simultaneously respect that it is their story to tell - another compelling notion explored by Amii in the podcast.

Have you listened to the podcast yet? Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or online on the BroadAgenda website

#broadtalk #genderequality #aminatamaternalfoundation #storytelling #humanrights #podcast #rapeawareness ...

aminatafoundation

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Mar 30

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Aminata’s story. When one of the vicious rebel snatches her in the arms of her beloved father during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Now she has rebuilt herself. And this has nothing to do with luck but a strong personality & moral strength to create then a charity - The Aminata Maternal Foundation - which helps women and their children be born in Amii's country of origin. Now that she has learned to fly again, a new angel contributes to improving the world. To read her book, Rising Heart, and contribute to the cause: https://www.aminata.co/ (also available as an audiobook) Illustration by @thenakedsloth ♥️

Aminata’s story. When one of the vicious rebel snatches her in the arms of her beloved father during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Now she has rebuilt herself. And this has nothing to do with luck but a strong personality & moral strength to create then a charity - The Aminata Maternal Foundation - which helps women and their children be born in Amii's country of origin.
Now that she has learned to fly again, a new angel contributes to improving the world. To read her book, Rising Heart, and contribute to the cause: https://www.aminata.co/ (also available as an audiobook)
Illustration by @thenakedsloth ♥️ ...

aminatafoundation

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Mar 14

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A choice is the greatest thing humanity has been gifted with. Occassionally choices can be morally challenging, but it is important to stand up for what is right - especially when we advocate for the rights of others. The #internationalwomensday2021 theme focalises exactly upon this notion. "From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge" (IWD, via the official IWD website). You can help us #choosetochallenge as we continue to support all women, mothers and their babies in Sierra Leone, to create long-lasting positive change in their lives. Together as a team we can choose to challenge the gender parity surrounding women's autonomy and enable them to make their own decisions regarding their access to healthcare. #internationalwomensday #IWD2021#genderquality #womensrights #womenempowerment #womensday #sierraleone #amf #aminatamaternalfoundation #choosetochallenge

A choice is the greatest thing humanity has been gifted with. Occassionally choices can be morally challenging, but it is important to stand up for what is right - especially when we advocate for the rights of others. The #internationalwomensday2021 theme focalises exactly upon this notion. "From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge" (IWD, via the official IWD website). You can help us #choosetochallenge as we continue to support all women, mothers and their babies in Sierra Leone, to create long-lasting positive change in their lives. Together as a team we can choose to challenge the gender parity surrounding women's autonomy and enable them to make their own decisions regarding their access to healthcare.

#internationalwomensday #IWD2021#genderquality #womensrights #womenempowerment #womensday #sierraleone #amf
#aminatamaternalfoundation #choosetochallenge ...

aminatafoundation

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Mar 12

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Here are some lovely women from our trip to Aberdeen Women's Centre in Sierra Leone before COVID-19. Everyone has their own story to tell that is shaped by their cultural, social and physical context. At AMF during March we would like to continue highlighting how women's experiences are an on-going narrative. We should never stop celebrating the success of women just because International Women's Day is over! #internationalwomensday #IWD2021#genderquality #womensrights #womenempowerment #womensday #sierraleone #amf #aminatamaternalfoundation #choosetochallenge

Here are some lovely women from our trip to Aberdeen Women's Centre in Sierra Leone before COVID-19. Everyone has their own story to tell that is shaped by their cultural, social and physical context. At AMF during March we would like to continue highlighting how women's experiences are an on-going narrative. We should never stop celebrating the success of women just because International Women's Day is over!

#internationalwomensday #IWD2021#genderquality #womensrights #womenempowerment #womensday #sierraleone #amf
#aminatamaternalfoundation #choosetochallenge ...