I Am a Girl from Africa

Happy Pub Day! Thanks to @dartfroggco for the gifted copy.

"Ubuntu is the essence of who we are as Africans, a lesson we learned from our ancestors who understood that we are all part of one human family. We need each other and we are responsible for each other."

I am a Girl From Africa is a beautiful memoir written by Zimbabwean born author and humanitarian Elizabeth Nyamayaro. She has been a fierce advocate not only for all African people, but for women all over the globe. I admire the work she has done with HIV/AIDS patients and with the U.N. projects of gender equality. I plan to learn more about her work with #HeforShe

Elizabeth had a rough upbringing and almost died several times because of the effects of poverty. A run in with a show more U.N. relief worker who helped her stuck with her and became her motivation for doing whatever it took to get hired by the U.N. in order to uplift her people.

She tells her story in dual timelines, her childhood and upbringing and her present efforts and relevant field work. Her love for her grandmother carries her throughout her life and she does not let any obstacles determine her from her end goal. What really struck me about Elizabeth's story was:

🌍 Her holistic and cultural approach to coming up with solutions to help people
🌍 Her adaptability and willingness to learn from other women already doing the work
🌍 Her unwavering faith and belief in her culture's beliefs and practices for the greater good
🌍 Her boldness to challenge herself in unknown situations
🌍 Her innovative ideas for inclusivity
🌍 Her love of her family and community
🌍 Her strength of character

Elizabeth never feels sorry for herself and holds on to her culture's traditions to motivate her to keep pushing forward towards her goals. She tackles every challenge that comes her way and widens the work that needs to be done to a global level. Overall this read was inspiring. I learned a lot about not only Zimbabwe, but other countries in Africa. I am looking forward to researching more about Elizabeth's work and finding out ways that I could get involved in gender equality projects. show less

The author’s life is a beautiful example of how a small act of kindness can change the world. When she was 8, she almost starved to death in her village in Zimbabwe when a United Nations worker (the woman in the blue dress) gave her a bowl of porridge. She swore then she would grow up to work for the UN. There and in her subsequent employment she has absolutely changed the world implementing programs to improve access to healthcare to saving Women from domestic violence from Finland to Malawi to the US. The author reads her own memoir in this audiobook about her life in unbelievable poverty, becoming a janitor in London in order to survive, as she navigates her way to finally get a foot in the door at the UN. This is an impressive show more story in countless ways and I cannot more highly recommend it. show less

Elizabeth Nyamayaro’s memoir of growing up in a small village in Zimbabwe and experiencing starvation from drought. When she is helped by a United Nations humanitarian worker, she is inspired to follow in her footsteps. Nyamayaro lives in poverty with her grandmother, but, with the help of an uncle, and through hard work to support herself, is able to gain an education. She eventually works for the UN and World Health Organization. She travels back to her home country of Zimbabwe and to other African countries, assisting with HIV/AIDS and River Blindness education and treatment.

This is an uplifting story about a woman who overcame many hardships to achieve her dream of working for the United Nations. Her book is founded on the show more concept of ubuntu, an ancient African philosophy that recognizes the connectedness of humankind. One of the common themes running through her story is the need to develop a sense of community.

She has formed an organization that advocates gender equality, an inclusive movement that includes men and boys, HeForShe. She truly believes that transformative change is possible through working together and is passionate in her support of this belief. She is working to end child marriage and domestic abuse.

I think the book could have been organized in a way that flowed better, but overall, it is a wonderful example of a woman overcoming many obstacles to make a difference in the world.

“What we share is more powerful than what divides us.” show less

I received an advance copy of this book, Thank you.

What a remarkable life and what a remarkable woman. To have overcome so many obstacles and remained true to her dreams is awe inspiring. Elizabeth was raise by her grandmother in Zimbabawe surrounded with love and guidance. Years of drought brought her village to starvation and she was saved from the brink of death by a young United Nations aid worker. That is when her dream began. That simple act caused Elizabeth to want to go forth and help others. This path seemed unlikely since at that point she hadn't ever gone to school. For a few years she spends time with her mother, who had reclaimed her. She also spent time with an Aunt and Uncle. During these times she did get schooling, and show more found support at home. She pursued schooling, but was often called out to work to help her family. She also missed her grandmother a great deal. Her Aunt was a doctor and this is where she realized how much need is in the world and how medicine alone can't fix things. She saw that change needed to come from within and be accepted throughout the whole community. This book is about her entire winding, but focused journey. One of my favorite quotes is: "If you think you are too small to make a difference try sleeping in a room with a mosquito." show less

her story is inspiring and her tenacity to help people is admirable. some of the details weren't important to me personally, and the info on gender based violence felt very basic to me. (but probably the info on hiv/aids was, too, but i have less knowledge of that so it didn't seem so to me.) she actually covers a lot here, because her life covers a lot, and so many different kinds of focused aide. an impressive life, and she still has a lot more work to do.

i really loved the different african proverbs she used as an opening for each chapter; they're from all over the continent, which nicely highlights her point of community and togetherness.

Elizabeth Nyamayaro is inspiring. Growing up in a small Zimbabwe village, she was a part of a close knit community. During a drought and near death, an “angel from God dressed in blue” gave her warm porridge and water. From that time on she knew she wanted to work for the United Nations. Her quest took her to England and then to Zurich where she worked on the HIV/AIDS campaign. In her determination, she never took “NO” for an answer. I’d love to listen to the audiobook narrated by the author.

nonfiction/memoir. Positive story, with activism!