She Gets It Done: Meet Amour Destine Founder, Annie Gibbs

Annie Gibbs was born in Mali and raised in London, UK. She graduated with a combined Honours LLB Law with a Psychology degree from London Southbank University. Annie has 14 years of experience working in the corporate and charitable sector. She is the co-author of Free Loaves on Fridays and Founder of Amour Destiné, a non profit by and for specialist organization that supports Black & Brown women affected by trauma. Annie was recognized as a King Charles III Coronation Champion in 2023.

How do you prepare (mentally, physically, spiritually) to achieve your goals? 

Spiritually I am grounded in my faith as a Muslim. Connecting with Allah on a daily basis through prayer and reading the Quran enables me to stay focused. I also find having a loving community of friends and family around me who I can enjoy spending time with from just relaxing and scheduling down time with to travelling home to Mali keeps me grounded. I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family that hold me to account and ensure that I separate my personal life and time from my day to day working.

I also have visual positive affirmations and enjoy reading books about personal development, listening to music and maintaining a healthy diet really helps me to be grounded.

What do you do when challenges and obstacles interrupt your plans? 

Having PTSD, at times it can feel as though things are not going according to plan due to my desire to achieve my goals and make a difference. However, I just find in those moments that what works best is to slow my pace down really helps. Reminding myself that I can take things step by step, there is no need to rush things in life. All that is supposed to be will be. There is always a solution for life’s challenges. There are also rainbows in the clouds in the form of people, leaders and loved ones who constantly help remind me to not give up. I have been able to overcome in the past and it is possible again. Having this perspective is best for me.  

Plans can always change and having this mindset, that it is ok enables me to adapt and be flexible when they do change.

Tell us about an accomplishment that you’re especially proud of and why. 

I am especially proud of the work I do in the community helping survivors of various forms abuse, from harmful practices to domestic abuse, move forward from being in unhealthy relationships and developing a by and for specialist organization called Amour Destiné  in legacy of my late mother who herself was a survivor of Domestic Abuse. We are staffed with a team of IDVAs and counsellors whom are helping women, and at times their children, escape dangerous situations, and inspiring women to embrace their destiny so that they can unlock the knowledge that situation does not define you. 

I have also recently become a co-author alongside 100 other care experience people. A letter titled Chère mère that is an extract  from my personal book which I am in the process of finishing, was published this year in the anthology “Free Loaves on Fridays” about my experience growing up in the UM care system and shining a light on the importance of ensuring connections to heritage is so fundamental to a child’s self esteem and development of self. 

Who are your role models or mentors in the business world, and how have they influenced you?

There are so many role models I look up to, firstly the memory of my late mother had  influenced me massively to be the best person that I can be in this world. If it was not for her I would not be here and the memory of her struggles keep spurring me on to create deeper levels of systems changes in Uk and my country of birth Mali. Growing up in care, I had no idea that I had such a big family. Since finding my family in Mali in my young adulthood, I now know that I come from a loving family that helps others just like me, that it is natural for me to want to help others is in my genes. So my second, biggest inspiration is my mother’s sister whom I was fortunate to meet and spend time with in recent years in Mali. She is known for helping others her whole life, including raising many children who’s parents had passed away and now she is my second biggest role model. 

I have had many rainbows in the clouds in my lifetime that I am yet to meet and I look at their journeys in the public’ domain such as Oprah Winfrey for her using her lived experience for change as I am. The fourth Michelle Obama for being such an inspiring bold and formidable force who stands up for women and girls and reminds us always to be ourselves and we matter so on the way forward when one door opens we must ensure we keep it open to help others to also pass through.

How important is networking to you, and what strategies do you use to build connections?

Networking has been something I have found very helpful in my growth as a human being. Not only for Amour Destiné but also myself as a person. Some of my best friends in this world I have met through networking in the earlier stages of my organization developing. I love meeting and learning from new people and networking provides the perfect opportunity to do this.

I have been able to develop partnerships for Amour Destiné through networking, which has enabled us to grow the help and support the women who are part of our community. So that they can have other communities they can build relationships with, that understand their lived experience and enhance the best support to rebuild their life.

In all honesty there are not really any strategies, I just like to be myself and speak to others. I tend to go and visit the people and organizations which I find interest me who align with my heart and values. 

Where can we our readers find you online?

IG/Twitter: annieagibbs 

Website : amourdestine.org.uk 

Photograph taken by the UK Home Office.