Lennox's Story

Making poverty history - one child at a time

Six years ago, the Make Poverty History campaign hit the headlines. It was supported by more than 200 charities, faith groups and celebrities, including Street Child Africa. At the marches, at schools and at churches, we gave out postcards with the slogan “Will the G8 listen to me?” The postcard used the photograph below of Lennox, taken by Chris Harris a photographer for The Times, newspaper.

Lennox is supported by Friends of the Street Children in Zambia. This year, we have news about Lennox from Dalley Kafwimbi, Director of Friends of the Street Children. Here’s what she told us.

“As a small boy Lennox used to scavenge for food in the rubbish pits and dust bins. He never wanted to visit the drop-in centres and only accepted the offer after a lot of negotiations and encouragement from the street workers. He was one of the most intelligent pupils among children attending street corner education. The street workers advised him to abandon street life and enrol in the government school. He eventually gave in and was admitted to Kawama Centre for boys. He continued attending lessons at the centre and was quickly helped to find a place in the government school. 

At grade seven, Lennox passed with flying colours. He went to grade eight and a year later, took the junior secondary leaving examinations in 2010 to complete junior secondary school. He passed with flying colours and now has gone to the tenth grade. Lennox is the child who has inspired a lot of street workers who have looked at his background and how he has pulled through thick and thin in his early childhood.”

The campaign in 2005, may seem a long time ago, but with your help, Street Child Africa and our partners are working to make poverty history.