A 30-year-old Sierra Leone civil war survivor shared her harrowing life story with students at Great Lakes Secondary School Friday morning.
Mariatu Kamara was 12 years old when she had both hands cut off by rebels who invaded her African village, she was raped at a young age and had a son who became sick and passed away at ten months.
Kamara told the students she faces challenges every day, but they've never limited her ability to keep fighting and move on with her life.
"I remember when I lost my hands, the first few years I remember how hopeless and down I used to be," says Kamara. "But after two or three years, I started to pick up my faith again because I had lost it. I was involved in several activities, like a theatre group. Going around and talking about my story helps me heal and look forward to the future with a lot of hope."
When asked about her thought's on teen suicide in this community, Kamara says she has learned despite her own experiences to accentuate the positive.
"I'm not trying to say they shouldn't feel how they are feeling when it comes to suicide, or being sad, or hopeless about the future, everybody is entitled to their own feelings, it's just that I believe if they learn to think outside the box it would help them," she says.
Kamara says it's hard for her to understand because in other parts of the world, like Sierra Leone, there are so many horrible things happening there, especially with children.
"I didn't grow up with my biological parents or get to know my parents until the age of 7 or 8," she says. "The only family I knew was my aunt who raised me. Now that I've come to this country, I know how important family is. For children here there are so many opportunities that the only thing that bothers me sometimes is that they seem to take things for granted.
"Simple things like clean drinking water, food at home, free education, lots of clothing. There are just so many opportunities for a life in this country that kids sometimes don't seem to realize how lucky and privileged they are."
Kamara hopes her message helps students open their eyes and see what the world has to offer.
She was also scheduled to speak at Lambton College Friday night.
