Sarah Begum

Early life

Begum was born in London, England, grew up in the Southwark and is of Bangladeshi descent. She attended Charlotte Sharman School and graduated from Kingston University.

Anthropologism and exploration career

Begum is an investigative journalist and an anthropologist-explorer noted for her adventurous missions around the globe. She has explored the world and investigated the lives of tribes, gangs and unique cultures highlighting stories, investigating current affairs helping people by making a humanitarian effort.

In 2009, Sarah won a place at the Enterprising Student Awards for her then Amazon film idea, and was recognised as the only woman out of the first 10 specially selected participants on this award. The award funded her plane ticket to the Amazon and her volunteer fee for the first two weeks where she taught English to children in the Amazon schools for a charity organisation before travelling deeper into the jungle. In 2010, at the age of 21, Begum became the youngest person to make a first film in the Amazon jungle when she travelled deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, to live with the Huaorani tribe and immersed in their way of life, hunting with warriors, gathering with women whilst investigating into the impacts of oil exploitation on their land. Begum was made Queen and married to a warrior to create an alliance and send their message about protecting their land through her film from exploitation in her film Amazon Souls.

Begum went on a road trip through the U.S, documenting the struggles of Native Americans touching on issues such as gambling, alcoholism and awareness of their culture in the modern era. She traversed the Atlas Mountains of Morocco where she was adopted by a Berber tribeswoman and became the first person ever to take her photo, which was then broadcast on Discovery Channel.

In Poland, Begum investigated the football hooligan gangs and the issues dividing them whilst representing Britain at the Kraków Film Festival. In the Sicilian valleys of Mount Etna, she helped transform a century old wine farm into an eco farm village. At the time she was investigating the mafia corruption against rural farmers and the anti-mafia movement that inspired the youth.

Begum is Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. She participated in the Enterprising Business Awards from 2010 to 2012.

Humanitarian and activism work

Begum's humanitarian efforts have included distributing aid to the Typhoon Haiyan survivors in the Philippines. She recorded their stories in a fundraising documentary which raised enough money to rebuild houses in the entire village she visited.

Begum is an activist for LGBTQ, environmental, human and women's rights issues amongst many others. She has engaged in events to raise awareness for the marginalised.

Other work

Begum's photography has been recognised by the Discovery Channel featuring a photo she took with a woman from the Berber tribe who adopted her in the Atlas Mountains. Sarah has survived in some of the most dangerous cities in the world – Caracas, Venezuela whilst presenting international current affairs for an English television channel.

Begum collaborated with a World Award Winning body painter, creating, Adventurion 3D-360, confirmed by the Guinness World Records as the first ever adventure themed 3D UV ChromaDepth bodypaint to be captured on both linear and 360 camera lens, representing the past, present and future of exploration through adventure, art, science, space and new film technology.

In 2014, she collaborated with television producer and adventurer, Russ Malkin, to set up 'The Adventuress Club' to empower, encourage and inspire women through adventure. Begum is also a public speaker about her adventures and through her talks, she educates, inspires, inform, and entertains people about the world and inspires people to live their dreams.

Awards, nominations and recognition

In 2014, Begum won the "Spirit of Adventure Award" from the Captain Scott Society for her expedition Life In The Darien Gap. In the same year, she was shortlisted by the SES (Scientific Exploration Society) Explorer of the year Award and was finalist of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship Award. She was highly commended by The Adventure Fund in association with Sidetracked magazine.