Listen to our Founder Taban on the Change Makers podcast

Our Founder Taban Shoresh recently appeared on the Change Makers podcast with host Michael Hayman to talk about her extraordinary life experiences, and her motivation for wanting to make a difference in the world through the Lotus Flower.

In the talk, she recalls her journey as a child genocide survivor in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq – and the terrifying moment she and her family realised they were going to be buried alive by Saddam Hussein’s men.

“All the adults screamed and started wailing as they could see the diggers, and they knew what that meant,” Taban tells Michael. “They would dig holes and make everyone lie in them alive, and slowly shovel soil over them. It was a very, very slow death, and everyone knew it.”

By a stroke of huge luck, the family were rescued at the last minute and they eventually arrived in the UK to start a new life.

In the podcast, Taban recounts her career path and why she felt compelled to start the Lotus Flower, as well as sharing her experiences as a single mother and domestic violence survivor.

She also explains why she will stop at nothing to keep helping other conflict survivors. “There’s so much change we can do in the world if we collaboratively come together and figure out how we can provide solutions to different problems.

“It’s taking a problem and looking at it through quite a small lens. I believe everything does have a solution.”

Do check out the recording here - we’re sure you’ll find it a massively inspiring listen!