I escaped my abusive boss and found a sisterhood
Mariam left Sierra Leone to become a domestic worker in Lebanon, but was mistreated and sexually abused by her employer. She now campaigns to help other women in her position.
Growing up in Sierra Leone, Mariam was one of the best students in her class - her dream was to become a journalist or a lawyer. But when finances prevented her from continuing her education she travelled to Lebanon to become a domestic worker. She soon found herself faced with terrible working conditions, and suffered sexual abuse from her male employer. She eventually escaped, and was able to meet other women in a similarly vulnerable position. Together the women are now campaigning for better protection for migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Mariam asked us not to use her full name in this interview.
Fereshteh Khosroujerdy was born blind in Iran, and loved to sing despite being told it was sinful. She later came to the UK as an asylum speaker and now performs with the Inner Vision Orchestra, the UK's only professional orchestra made up of blind musicians. This interview was originally broadcast in July 2020.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Gaia Caramazza
(Photo: Mariam marching through the streets of Beirut. Credit: courtesy of MCC)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Wed 25 Jan 2023 12:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Wed 25 Jan 2023 18:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Wed 25 Jan 2023 23:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 26 Jan 2023 00:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service South Asia
- Thu 26 Jan 2023 03:06GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except South Asia
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected