From Child Soldier to Global Advocate.

In 2008, while making a documentary in aid of ex child soldiers in Sierra Leone, I met Umu. She was sixteen and told me a story I will never forget.

At just five years old, RUF rebels attacked her village. Her father was murdered before her eyes, and she was taken captive. The worst things that can happen to a small girl, happened to Umu. At ten, she tried to escape but was caught, beaten, cut, tied to a tree, and left to die. As a snake slithered toward her, a dog burst from the bush, killed it, saving her life. The dog then led her out of the jungle to safety. That same night, amidst another attack, Umu rescued a baby from a burning hut. With the baby and the dog, she escaped and began the long journey that took her a year to return to her village—only to discover her mother and most of her siblings had been killed. Her Aunty took them all in.

Some years later, Umu told me her dream: to become a lawyer and fight for women’s rights, rights she never had. With help from https://www.theumufoundation.org/ and generous supporters, she qualified and is now admitted to the bar.

Her next step is a PhD on women in conflict, to take her lived experience to the international stage. In order to help more women world wide. Your donation will help pay for her study and living costs, bringing this vision to life.

Please help Umu’s dream get bigger.