Ishmael Beah - speakerbookingagency

Ishmael Beah Speaker & Booking Information

Activist and Author

Category: Activists, Authors

Speaker’s Fee Range: $20,000 - $30,000
Travels From: New York, NY, USA

About Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah Biography




Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone on November 23, 1980. When he was eleven, Ishmael's life, along with the lives of millions of other Sierra Leoneans, was derailed by the outbreak of a brutal civil war. After his parents and two brothers were killed, Ishmael was recruited to fight as a child soldier. He was 13. He fought for over two years before he was removed from the army by UNICEF and placed in a rehabilitation home in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. After completing rehabilitation in late 1996, Ishmael won a competition to attend a conference at the United Nations to talk about the devastating effects of war on children in his country. It was there that he met his new mother, Laura Simms, a professional storyteller who lives in New York. Ishmael returned to Sierra Leone and continued speaking about his experiences to help bring international attention to the issue of child soldiering and war affected children.

In 1998 Ishmael came to live with his American family in New York City. He completed high school at the United Nations International School, and subsequently went on to Oberlin College in Ohio. Throughout his high school and undergraduate education, Ishmael continued his advocacy work to bring attention to the plight of child soldiers and children affected by war around the world, speaking on numerous occasions on behalf of Unicef, Human Rights Watch, United Nations Secretary General's Office for Children and Armed Conflict, at the United Nations General Assembly, serving on a UN panel with Secretary General Kofi Annan and discussing the issue with dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton. He is a member of the Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Division Committee.

In "A Long Way Gone," Beah, now 26 years old, tells a riveting story. At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. Eventually released by the army and sent to a UNICEF rehabilitation center, he struggled to regain his humanity and to reenter the world of civilians, who viewed him with fear and suspicion. This is, at last, a story of redemption and hope.



Book Ishmael Beah Now!

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Ishmael Beah's expertise is in high demand. To book Ishmael Beah for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Ishmael Beah's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Ishmael Beah's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Ishmael Beah for your next speaking engagement.

Interested in booking Ishmael Beah for a virtual meeting?

Contact SpeakerBookingAgency today at 1-888-752-5831 to book Ishmael Beah for a virtual event, virtual meeting, virtual appearance, virtual keynote speaking engagement, webinar, video conference, or Zoom meeting. Our experienced booking agents at SpeakerBookingAgency are dedicated to securing the best price and availability for Ishmael Beah and a wide range of esteemed speakers.

Book Ishmael Beah for your Virtual Meeting

SpeakerBookingAgency is a leading platform for booking exceptional speakers across various industries. Since 1999, we have built strong relationships with top speakers, agents, publicists, and managers. Our expertise extends beyond sports, catering to all types of companies and event planners seeking renowned speakers like Ishmael Beah for their virtual engagements.

Request Information

Golden star with lines on both end

This inquiry is for PAID corporate appearances, speaking engagements and endorsements only. Due to the volume of emails and calls, we cannot respond to inquiries related to autograph requests, donations, non-paying charity events or personal messages to Speaker. We look forward to making your next event a success.