Cherie Booth visits Plan UK to answer children's questions about Africa

Following Tony Blair’s ‘Commission for Africa’ report, Cherie has been answering a number of questions about issues facing Africa at Plan UK’s London office. These questions were compiled and asked by children participating in an independent project called ‘The Young People’s Commission for Africa’.

John Christie

The children asking Cherie Booth their questions

• “Why are we making poor countries in Africa pay extra interest on debt when they are the poor ones?”, 
• “What advice can you give the youths in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa?”,
• “As a human rights lawyer and a mother, what do you think are the five biggest issues facing children in Africa today”.

John Christie

Cherie Booth answering the questions

These are just a few of the questions that a group of children from the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls School, south London, put to Cherie Booth .

‘The Young People’s Commission for Africa’ has been set up by Plan UK because of a perceived gap in the ‘Commission for Africa’, launched by Tony Blair in February 2004. The Commission, which aims to “accelerate progress towards a strong and prosperous Africa” did not consult with young people as part of their research and preparation.

John Christie

Cherie Booth and the children outside Plan UK

Cherie commented “This project is a real opportunity for children across the world to speak to each other.”

13 year-old Dione Graham said, “ She was quite easy to talk to”, whilst Rochelle Eusebio (also 13 years-old) commented, “ She was very polite and she gave many answers to our questions.”

Cherie’s interview was filmed and will be placed as a ‘Hot Seat’ on the Young People's Commission for Africa website that pupils from 25 UK schools and 25 schools in Africa are currently using to discuss the continent and its future.