“Improving the lives of others will improve and enrich mine as well…In that moment I know without a doubt that as long as my dream continues to be a dream for others it will also be my own.”

This is a moving account of a determined young woman’s personal journey from terrible poverty in a village in Zimbabwe to spending a life helping others. Proud to be a ‘Girl from Africa’ a pride instilled in her by her loving grandmother, who – like so many ‘gogos’ in Africa – devoted her life to raising Elizabeth.

A desire born out of gratitude to the Aid worker who rescued her from the brink of death with a bowl of porridge, Elizabeth finally realised her dream and went on to work throughout Africa with desperately ill and poor people. Seeing the often inhumane effects of gender inequality, she also became a founder of the worldwide movement HeforShe with the United Nations.

Arriving in London as a naive young girl, expecting to immediately find work with the UN, Elizabeth’s road to educating herself and managing to live in a totally different world is inspiring in itself. Her compassion and dedication comes through in this deeply moving memoir.