Voice out of Poverty, A

“. . . a coming of age story of courage, survival and inner strength which illuminates the human condition in all its squalor and glory.”—Vikas Swarup, writer of Slumdog Millionnaire

From Devastating Poverty and Childhood Trauma to International Standing

Rising from the slums of Calcutta, where Jillian Haslam and her family were forced to live after British colonization ended, A Voice out of Poverty traces the remarkable journey of this determined, and compassionate woman as she uses her story and her voice to speak for the poor and powerless.

Haslam first embodied her fierce will to never give up as a young girl, when she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk to keep her newborn sister from dying of starvation.

A Voice out of Poverty leaves the reader asking how someone so young had the tenacity to overcome so much—and then go back to face it all again in a passionate effort to spare others from the suffering that she endured and witnessed all around her growing up.

"It is no Cinderella story, but rather emphasizes hard work and sheer courage. Poverty, gender, and race are at the forefront of our problems—and indeed, problems worldwide.” —Shachi Amdekar President, Cambridge University International Development Society, UK

A Voice out of Poverty is a raw and inspiring memoir that shows how hope can be found in the darkest situations, and how ‘success’ is not just the act of making it through. Rather, it is the act of reaching back to bring others with you.

As a young girl, Jillian Haslam saved a life. Herself tiny and aching from malnutrition, she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk to try and prevent her new-born sister from dying of starvation. This tenacious act was the first glimmer of a lifelong drive to empower others to rise from adversity.

Now a renowned humanitarian and motivational speaker, Jillian Haslam shares her astonishing story to light the way for people to realise that their destiny is greater than their circumstances.

‘...a coming of age story of courage, survival and inner strength which illuminates the human condition in all its squalor and glory.’ —Vikas Swarup, Author of Slumdog Millionaire

‘Enormously compelling …like something out of Dickens, yet true. It has the power to move with an epic sweep, yet it is intensely personal. It is tailor-made for the cinema and I cannot think of a more worthy project to make happen!’ —Jack Sholder, Hollywood Film Director, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

‘...riveting and essential reading.’ —Dame Joanna Lumley, actor, TV producer, activist

‘...a vivid, harrowing, and inspiring account of survival, triumph, and a career in charitable outreach.’ —Foreword Reviews