About Monica
I was born under apartheid in South Africa, where for 25 years I was an activist in the liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC). I left South Africa as a refugee and was granted political asylum in the UK in the early 1980s.
I tell my story. I invite others to tell theirs.
The stories of famous people are recorded, but the stories of ordinary people — people who have lived through hardship, exclusion and injustice — are too often unheard.
It is we who know our own stories. We should tell them ourselves, so that our stories can help shape the services we receive.
I particularly enjoy speaking at school assemblies, to show children of all ages how to recognise inequality and prevent it from growing.
Professionally, I was a nurse, midwife and lawyer. When my husband suffered a severe stroke, I stopped working to care for him full-time for ten years. After his death, I joined the National Health Service (NHS) as an Associate Director, to ensure that the needs of different cultural groups were included in service planning and delivery.
In 2013 I founded I Protect Me South Africa which empowers the vulnerable to resist abuse.
I am now retired and offer my experience as a resource to organisations seeking to include the people they serve in the planning and delivery of services. I use my experience as a writer, storyteller and speaker to help people and organisations listen to voices that are too often unheard.
I speak English, Afrikaans and basic French.
Awards
· Somerset Hospital Midwife of the Year 1963
· 2020 Fellow, Forbes Gratitude Network
· 2021 Ireland Writing Retreat Award
Monica Clarke
Author | Speaker | Storyteller
Every story matters. Tell yours!
Phone +44 7763 912159
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