Kwesia X’s uncle committed an “honour killing” by setting the family home on fire while his wife and three daughters slept inside. Kwesia’s cousin was trying to marry for love and her father felt it dishonoured the family. In the aftermath of the crime, Kwesia’s life completely unravelled, including her mental health. She later found herself on a path to healing through a chance encounter that led her to the Amazon rainforest.
Growing up in inner-city London amidst poverty and crime, Kwesia had to come to terms with the murder of her aunt and the tragic loss of a close friend through a stabbing. Years of repressed sadness surfaced as anger and she struggled with frayed relationships, homelessness and suicide attempts, leading to a rock-bottom mental state.
Following an opportunity to travel to the Amazon rainforest with the British Exploring Society, Kwesia discovered her inner resilience and leadership skills. Even though she did not consider herself the “outdoorsy type”, she spent three weeks in the remote jungle, learning to navigate and overcome obstacles, ultimately finding herself in an unexpected way.
Upon returning to London, Kwesia was intent on channelling her newfound leadership skills to connect inner-city kids with the transformational powers of nature. She launched City Girl in Nature, an outreach programme and YouTube show that teaches urban youth about adventure opportunities on their doorstep. She also recently began hosting Get Birding, a popular podcast about birdwatching, which has become her latest obsession.
Kwesia’s grief never goes away, but a lot of good has happened since. She continues to find healing through her connection with nature
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