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The bowl of porridge that changed my life

Elizabeth Nyamayaro was saved from starvation as a child by a local aid worker during a drought in Zimbabwe. It made her determined that one day she too would work for the UN.

When Elizabeth Nyamayaro was eight years old a severe drought hit her small Zimbabwean village. She was saved from starvation by a local United Nations aid worker, who gave her a bowl of porridge after finding her collapsed on the ground. It was an experience that made Elizabeth determined that one day she too would work for the UN.

It was a difficult road, but she eventually made it to one of the top jobs in the organisation. She campaigned for global gender equality, and launched one of the UN鈥檚 most successful social media campaigns ever, HeForShe.

This programme was first broadcast in April 2021.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Rebecca Vincent

(Photo: Elizabeth Nyamayaro. Credit: Behind the Cause)

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41 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Jun 2024 02:06GMT

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  • Wed 12 Jun 2024 11:06GMT
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