Camilla Batmanghelidjh

Camilla Batmanghelidjh 1963 – 2024

“Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1963 to an Iranian father and a Belgian mother, Camilla Batmanghelidjh came from a wealthy and influential family. She moved to England as a teenager to pursue her education, eventually studying theatre at Warwick University.

In 1994, driven by the lack of mental health support for children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, she founded The Place 2 Be, a charity providing counselling and mental health support to children in schools. The organization grew significantly, becoming a prominent provider of these crucial services.

Two years later, in 1996, Batmanghelidjh established Kids Company, a charity aiming to provide practical, emotional, and educational support to vulnerable children and young people in London and Bristol. Kids Company became her most well-known, and ultimately most controversial, endeavor, offering a wide array of assistance including food, clothing, shelter, therapy, and educational programs.

Batmanghelidjh became a highly visible figure in the UK, known for her flamboyant style, colorful clothing, and distinctive hairstyle. A charismatic speaker and staunch advocate for children’s rights, she received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

It’s important to remember that Camilla Batmanghelidjh is a complex and controversial figure. While lauded by many for her dedication to vulnerable children, her methods and the financial management of Kids Company faced significant scrutiny, and her legacy remains a subject of debate.”

About the book “Broken Lives”

Shattered Lives: Children Who Live With Courage and Dignity is a powerful and deeply personal account of Camila Batmanghelidjh’s experiences working with vulnerable children through Kids Company. Through a series of compelling case studies, the book sheds light on the lives of children who have endured severe trauma, abuse, neglect, and poverty, vividly portraying their resilience, courage, and desperate need for support.

Batmanghelidjh delves into the complex challenges these children face and the systemic failures that exacerbate their vulnerability. She advocates for a compassionate and holistic approach to supporting vulnerable children, emphasizing the importance of building trust, providing unconditional love, and addressing their emotional needs.

The book also critiques social services and the child protection system, highlighting their limitations and failures in adequately protecting and supporting these children. Interwoven throughout are Batmanghelidjh’s personal reflections and insights, revealing the emotional toll of her work and her unwavering commitment to helping those she served.