Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah is a Sierra Leonean author and human rights activist, best known for his memoir "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier." Born in Sierra Leone in 1980, his life was profoundly impacted by the civil war that began in 1991. He was orphaned at a young age, recruited as a child soldier at 13, and later rescued by UNICEF. After immigrating to the United States, he pursued higher education and became a prominent advocate for children affected by war. Beah has authored several books, including "Radiance of Tomorrow" and "Little Family."