CTV's Daiene Vernile will interview Mariatu Kamara on stage as part of this presentation.

Mariatu Kamara was born and raised in the west African nation of Sierra Leone. Her harrowing experiences as a child victim of war and its aftermath are the subject of her memoir, The Bite of the Mango (Fall 2008). Now 21, Mariatu lives in Toronto where she attends college. She was named a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts, which involves speaking to groups across North America about her experiences. Prior to her UNICEF engagement, Mariatu spoke publicly for the nonprofit group Free the Children. A documentary about child victims of war, featuring Mariatu, is now in development.

Susan Elizabeth McClelland is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. She writes predominantly on women's and children's issues, and is the receipient of the 2005 Amnesty International Media Award. Susan met Mariatu in 2002 while writing a story on the impact of war for Maclean's Magazine. She subsequently recorded hours of Mariatu's story on tape in order to help the young woman write her memoir. To read more about Susan McClelland, visit her website at www.susanmcclelland.com.

Nii Addico (drummer) is a renowned artist and musican from Ghana, Nii Addico immigrated to Canada in 2005. Since his arrival he and his wife run Creation Africa, a small company created to showcase Nii’s work and to foster a new appreciation for the richness of African culture within Canada. Nii's artwork has slowly been building a strong reputation among collectors. His reputation as a mucisian and drum teacher is also becoming well known. Nii is available for drum lessons and performances. See www.creationafrica.com for more information.