Content Warning: The following article contains references to several violent crimes such as sexual abuse, human trafficking and female genital mutilation that some readers may find distressing. For help and support, please visit our Advice and Support webpage.
Hosted by Nina Aouilk, a life coach and survivor of childhood abuse, Unbreakable provides a safe space for survivors of violent and abusive crimes to share the pain of their experiences. Offered as a video series and audio podcast, Nina’s valuable insight brings the audience closer to each person she interviews, and she believes it’s an important show for lots of people to listen to or watch.
‘You should watch Unbreakable for awareness on subjects often unspoken about’, Nina shared. ‘Within your professional capacity, you could save a life, enable somebody to escape their situation, safeguard staff at workplaces and be a better human.’
Unbreakable explores many different devastating situations, ranging from trafficking as sex workers and within armed gangs, to domestic violence and female genital mutilation.
It also gives male survivors of violent abuse a place to discuss their stories without fear of judgement. It was the experiences of one of her male guests that especially stood out to Nina, as she couldn’t help but relate it to her own family.
Sosa Henkoma was born in Nigeria, but after being abandoned he was brought to live in the UK and became embroiled with local gang members by the age of eight. Over the next few years, he was involved in smuggling guns and selling crack cocaine and was sent to prison when he was just 13. It took another five years before he was identified as a victim of human trafficking.
‘Having two young sons of a similar age to Sosa, my heart broke knowing all he needed was guidance and a mother’s love’, says Nina. ‘In a different circumstance, he could be my son who had been groomed and manipulated when he most sought belonging and guidance from his elders.’
Some of the other inspiring individuals that feature in Unbreakable include Ilja Abbattista who was coerced into sex work and trafficked around Holland, Hibo Wardere who underwent female genital mutilation at the age of six, and Lejla Dauti who was trapped in a coercive and abusive relationship for eight years.
The series concludes with Nina telling her own story in candid detail. She was just 14 when she was gang raped by her father and his friends, before being forced to marry the son of one of her abusers just a year later. Within the marriage she experienced more severe sexual and emotional abuse, so she tried to escape back to her family home.
However, her parents and brother were angered by her return and unsuccessfully attempted an honour killing.
Nina is now a life coach, an activist and an advocate for the power of self-love. She wants to use her platform to raise awareness of more untold stories, including schoolgirls who are groomed by teachers, communities affected by cults, and the struggles that immigrants face as they try to fit in.
She also believes that true crime content can help viewers hold a mirror up to themselves and inspire positive change within their own lives.
Nina explained: ‘We often are too scared to admit how we feel, but through other people’s stories and traumas we can resonate with something that we ourselves have struggled through.
‘This makes us feel less alone and inspires us to create change with our own lives because we deserve a better life.’
Unbreakable is available to stream now on Crime + Investigation Play or listen wherever you get your podcasts for more.
