Breaking Open Barriers

"From walking barefoot to school to representing her beloved Sierra Leone at the United Nations, one woman's journey of family, education, and overcoming adversity" Yvette Stevens was born in 1946 and grew up in colonial Sierra Leone. During her childhood, . she had three dreams she hoped to achieve in life becoming a scientist, working to relieve suffering in the world, and raising a family. Given her modest background, she was unsure how to achieve these goals. but vowed to try.

This is a story of her incredible journey of facing the challenges of studying engineering at a time when this was considered a male profession, as well as pursuing a career at the United Nations and serving as the Sierra Leonean Ambassador in Geneva, all whilst raising five children as a single mother.

This book is a wonderful testament to what the endurance, empathy. leadership qualities and deepfelt determination of a single individual can achieve in the pursuit of our common goal of relentlessly improving the lot of humanity. Ambassador Yvette Stevens is the embodiment of such an individual. The impact of her work, both inside and outside the UN Family, leaves one breathless and serves as a wonderful example to our young people who are, and will be, called upon to help heal our fraying planet. Read. Learn and Act! - Michael Moller Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations