A Voice for Mothers
At IDA+S, we believe in celebrating women who challenge, inspire, and create meaningful change. For this edition of our International Women’s Day series, we turn our focus to Aminata Conteh-Biger—an author, speaker, and advocate whose extraordinary journey has shaped her mission to transform maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone.
Aminata was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and grew up in a nation that would soon be torn apart by an 11-year civil war. As a young girl, she was kidnapped and imprisoned by rebel soldiers—a devastating reality for many women and girls in conflict zones. Following her release, she became one of the first Sierra Leonean refugees to be settled in Australia, where she found a new path, a new voice, and a new mission.
From Survivor to Advocate
In Australia, Aminata built a life as a wife, mother, and professional in the fashion industry. Yet, it was the birth of her first child, Sarafina, that became the defining moment of her life’s work.
During Sarafina’s birth, serious complications arose and it was only through the availability of high-quality healthcare that both mother and daughter survived. But Aminata knew that if she had been in Sierra Leone where mothers are 200 times more likely to die in childbirth than in Australia the outcome would have been tragically different. This realisation ignited her purpose.
A Mission to Save Lives
In 2014, she founded The Aminata Maternal Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone. Through her foundation, Aminata works tirelessly to provide access to safe childbirth, medical resources, and support for women and babies who would otherwise face devastating odds.
Beyond her foundation, Aminata uses her voice to advocate for systemic change, highlighting the intersection of gender inequality, healthcare access, and human rights. Her book, Rising Heart, details her incredible journey from war-torn Sierra Leone to global changemaker.
Aminata’s Reflections on International Women’s Day
For Aminata, International Women’s Day is not just a day of recognition—it is a call for action and continuous dialogue. “We have to choose one day in the calendar, one day to talk about so many issues,” she says. “If you want to put me on the table, let it be for a whole year, then I am happy to be part of it.”
She believes in unity and allyship, advocating for women and men to come together in the fight for gender equality. “There is so much strength when women and men come together.”
Aminata Conteh-Biger embodies resilience, advocacy, and the unwavering pursuit of change. Her work reminds us that the fight for women's rights is far from over. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate her extraordinary contribution and the lives she continues to impact.
