Asmaa James

Asmaa James is a Sierra Leone journalist and women's rights activist. According to the BBC’s list of “100 Women” for 2019, she is one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world.

Early years and education James was born in Freetown and brought up as an orphan in Pujehun. In 2016, she was selected for Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders award, giving her the opportunity to hone her skills and develop professionally at a higher education institution in the United States.

James founded the Asmaa James Foundation, during the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic. Her foundation provides support to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by giving them access to reproductive health education, scholarships, mentoring, and life skills training.

Awards and recognitions 2014 - James was recognised as the most outstanding female journalist in Sierra Leone by the Independent Media Commission. 2016 - Mandela Washington Fellow 2019 - Recognised as one of the 100 BBC Women