Thank you to the publisher for my copy, all opinions are my own.

This is a gorgeous memoir of Elizabeth Nyamayaro’s life growing up in a small village in Zimbabwe and experiencing starvation from drought. When she finds support from an UN humanitarian worker, it changes her life and inspires her future in the most remarkable way.

This is a book that is uplifting, powerful and brilliantly motivational. A must read!

“I Am A Girl From Africa” is a memoir by Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the brain and inspiration behind HeForShe, a movement for gender equality put forth by the United Nations.

This book sheds light on the mission Nyamayaro has taken on from such a young age growing up in Zimbabwe, given by her mother to her grandmother in such a state that the nurse initially refused to offer treatment given she thought Elizabeth was dead. Her grandmother nurses her back to health and begins to instill the wonderful gift of understanding life and how to find satisfaction by helping others. While still young, Nyamayaro finds herself starving while her grandmother is away from the village and she is assisted by a Unicef member. She admires this angels blue dress and vows to grow up to be just like her.

Nyamayaro’s formative years are during the AIDS/HIV crisis and her aunt is spearheading care and support for sufferers in the community. Nyamayaro assists her and learns at her feet the skill of connecting with others who are struggling. This service eventually gets her foot in the door at the UN where she assists with a program focussed on the crisis in Africa. She becomes a shining star and then heads up a near impossible task of gender equality around the world, taking the route of not blaming men, but having them join women to lift them up.

I could write a paper on what I’ve learned from this book. It is outstanding, inspirational, thought provoking….it is everything. She does a great job of using flashbacks to show how her past has influenced her present and in doing so, millions of women around the world.

One of the best books of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy for review.

4:5 stars. What a remarkable story! I started reading this amazing story with no expectations and I was hooked. Elizabeth, born in Zimbabwe, dreams of working for the United Nations at the age of 6 years old.

Then follows her road to her dreams filled with tremendous courage and perseverance. She does it in true tradition of her African heritage and wows to fight for Africa.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you are in need of positivity and a true model that succeeded in spreading goodness into the world, do not hesitate fôr a moment.

This isn’t what I would usually read but I am trying to read more books that are out of comfort zone. . I am so glad I read this because it was interesting and inspiring.

A gorgeous, inspiring memoir of "a girl from Africa" who goes on to contribute massively to the health and well-being of Africans and women everywhere through her work with the United Nations.

Elizabeth Nyamayaro was raised first by her Gogo (grandmother) in rural Zimbabwe, then moved in with her struggling parents in the capital of Harare, before being taken in by an aunt and uncle who provide her with a private school education. Each of these experiences, including near starvation, led her to pursue a career with the United Nations, against all odds. Once she has achieved this, it is Elizabeth's understanding of the world through the concept of ubuntu that led her to leave a lasting mark on the world through the HeForShe movement.

Nyamayaro's is a poverty-to-power-to-the-people story, lived with compassion and commitment. I was moved, enlightened and deeply inspired by it.

She says, "What makes me special is what makes all of us special. I am part of my community and connected to everyone." While this is true, it is also clear that Elizabeth Nyamayaro is an extraordinarily special individual.

Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Zimbabwe, Africa, feminism and true stories.

Am amazing memoir of Elizabeth. Born in Zimbabwe to very poor parents. They struggled to feed her, and finally when she was almost dead they dropped her off at her grandmother’s (Gogo). Gogo was also very poor, the drought was terrible that year and there was no sign of rain. Gogo was determined to save her granddaughter so she put Elizabeth on her back and walked for miles in search of food and water. Years later in another drought she again almost died. Only 8 years old her Gogo took off for days in search of food and water. She had always helped Gogo work in the fields and one day after 3 days of no food or water, she collapsed in the blazing sun under a tree believing she was about to die. Then a miracle happened, a lady in a ‘blue dress’ appeared with a bowl of porridge!

From then on she had the dream to become like the lady in blue so she could help others in her country of Africa. Her grandmother encouraged her to go for her dream, never to give up, because her dream is the dream for all. That dream she never forget not matter what obstacles stood in her way. Her fortitude, determination and willingness to pursue her dream is incredible.
One could say what she achieved was impossible......but she did it. I hope you take the time to read this book, I highly recommend it.