Aminata is a proud west-African woman raised in 10 countries around the Global South, who is passionate about enhancing the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree at McGill University in International Development Studies and Management, she volunteered for various organizations using the arts and innovative approaches to engage youth on gender and HIV/AIDS issues.
Amidst the Ebola epidemic, she relocated from Montreal, Canada to Freetown, Sierra Leone to join the frontline of the response efforts. Working for the largest Social Mobilization Action Consortium (SMAC) in the region, she contributed to the development and facilitation of behavioural change campaigns in order to break the chain of transmission. She then co-founded the Survivor Dream Project (SDP) focused on both, providing support (psycho-social, entrepreneurial and educational) to female Ebola survivors and conducting empirical research on sustainable community recovery efforts targeting women and youth.
She was recognized as a Queen’s Young Leader – Highly Recommended Runner-up for her role as a young leader in her community, and received a year-long bespoke training and mentoring from the University of Cambridge, with access to leading lecturers and contributors. Aminata is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a One Young World Ambassador.
