Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie
Madame Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie, the founder and CEO of Touch of Grace International, was born in Yengema, a town in Nimo Chiefdom, Kono District, in the eastern part of Sierra Leone. She is the daughter of the late Alhaji Abdul Karim Sangari and Haja Zinab Sangari, who instilled in her the values of kindness and humility. Under their guidance, Madame Samari developed a profound passion for caring for others.
She began her education in her hometown of Yengema. Despite the challenges of the Civil War, she continued her high school education at St. Joseph Secondary School in Freetown. There, she showed a steadfast commitment to helping others and compassion and love for her fellow students. After completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing, she established a first-class teaching hospital in Yengema, Kono District, to give back to her community.
In 1997, Madame Alimatu B. Samari was airlifted to the United States, where she continued her nursing career. By 2002, she had become a professional nurse. Driven by her faith and belief that all things are possible with God, she further immersed herself in spiritual activities, eventually becoming a deacon in her church.
Madame Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie is a devout woman of faith who has attended her church since 1997. As a deacon, she is known for her golden heart and dedication to helping those in need. She consistently puts smiles on people’s faces and encourages others to be kind and generous. She is a member of the Health Care Ministry and has participated in several international medical mission trips with her church.
Madame Samari’s achievements extend beyond her role as the founder and CEO of Touch of Grace International, a nonprofit organization with branches in the United States and Sierra Leone. She was twice nominated as the women’s leader for the Kono JCE organization. The NGO sector recognized her in 2023 and 2024 for her best practices and efforts in community development. In 2019, she received recognition from Counselor Will Opam Jawando, a Montgomery County Council member at large, for her dedication to providing health services to her US community and health education opportunities for students and health professionals in Sierra Leone. The International House of Prayers also acknowledged her efforts in community building in the United States.
As a teenager, Madame Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie frequently visited the Liberian refugee camp in Waterloo during the Civil War in Sierra Leone, providing aid to those in need. She continues to support her community through various initiatives, such as organizing feeding programs for school children, paying tuition for children who want to further their education, and offering free summer school classes for primary six pupils and junior secondary school students to help them excel in their public exams. These efforts have earned her the name “Them Pickin Them Mama” (the children’s mother). Her contributions significantly impact human capital development in her community.
Madame Alimatu Sangari-Sammarie exemplifies the virtues of kindness, compassion, and spirituality. Her life is a testament to the impact one individual can have on their community and beyond. Through her work with Touch of Grace International, she has improved the health and well-being of countless individuals, embodying her belief that “Well Bod Gentry” (health is wealth). Her story inspires many, highlighting the importance of giving back and supporting those in need.