Ayo Deforge : Healing Childhood Grief on Loss, Resilience & Supporting Grieving Children

In this powerful episode of the Collaboration Global Podcast, host Gill Tiney sits down with author and advocate Ayo Deforge to explore the lasting impact of childhood grief and the importance of emotional support for children experiencing loss. Ayo shares her deeply personal story of losing her mother to cancer at just 13 years old and how that experience shaped her journey into storytelling, poetry, and advocacy for grief support in education. The conversation highlights how children often process loss internally and why supportive environments, open dialogue, and compassionate listening can make a meaningful difference. Together, Gill Tiney and Ayo Deforge discuss how simple acts of kindness, empathy, and ongoing connection can help individuals navigate grief at any age. They also explore the role schools can play in supporting children through grief counselling, emotional expression, and safe spaces for conversation. Ayo also reflects on her personal journey through infertility, pregnancy loss, and the unexpected birth of her child, sharing how resilience, faith, and community support shaped her path forward. This conversation offers valuable insight for parents, educators, leaders, and anyone interested in supporting children and families through grief and life’s most difficult transitions. 🎯 In this episode, we discuss:

• If conversations like this resonate with you, there is a space where these reflections continue. You’re welcome to join the guest meetings at Collaboration Global. For 90 minutes, people from different paths come together simply to connect, collaborate, and grow — sharing ideas, perspectives, and possibilities in a way that goes deeper than traditional networking. There are thoughtful conversations.
  Stories from people building meaningful work.
  And a room where people genuinely listen. LINK https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaboration-global-guest-session-online-tickets-192260726007

• The emotional impact of childhood grief and loss
• Why empathy and presence matter when supporting grieving individuals
• The importance of grief education and counselling in schools
• How storytelling, journaling, and creative expression support healing
• Aya Deforge’s personal journey through infertility, loss, and unexpected hope
• Ways communities can support children experiencing grief