A child of the state | Lemn Sissay | TEDxHousesofParliament

Lemn Sissay is an award winning poet and playwright, He was the first poet to write for the Olympics 2012 and received an MBE from the Queen for Services to Literature. In this talk he recalls his experiences of the care system, the search for his birth family and the insights this has given him.
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[@sebbysebby8771]

As an Ethiopian so proud to see you!!!!!! you are our hero. you are such an inspiration for lots of people!

[@ianbutler8776]

Powerful advocacy for young people in care. Love is everything and our care system needs to reflect this

[@sarahfawcett4513]

I work in the care system and love the unique interactions I have with the young people I work with, while others look for the bad, I always see the good, the musical talent, the resilience, the life skills of these children. I love my job and would not change it for anything...it is a vocation for me not a job.

[@deb9784]

Wonderful to hear! We need more people like you, we really do! Blessings! You can't know how important each interaction is! Each life touched!

[@marutsega387]

Being an Ethiopian, I'm so proud to see this great performance. Well done!!

[@ambessashield9360]

Just voted in as chancellor of the University of Manchester. Congratulations my brother!

[@12nakedtruth]

Hands down.. he is the greatest poet of the 21st century! I had a chance to meet him yesterday in d.c. and what a humble creature he is! I love his work!

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Having just read his book ‘My name is Why’ I cannot understand why only 57 moments listed all these years later. That African saying ‘it takes village to raise a child’ echos his call to us that we all All needed to raise, respond, engage with ‘children in (our ) care’. Thank you Lemn for opening my heart and eyes.

[@ethio-sol8188]

Amazing speech! A man as successful as Lemn, bringing out his childhood story to learn & inspire people; this is the most tremendous job to do. We honored you brother, Thank you!

[@aidenwrenn5342]

What a wonderful man, children are our most precious resource. All should have the opportunity to take us forward.

[@stuartbraggs8579]

Inspirational you humble me, embarrass me, motivate me, to make a difference what an exceptional journey you have been on - not a bad poet too...

[@janicewilliams5721]

You are amazing, such an inspiration, a lot resonates with me about child hood abuse, great to see a passionate thriving survivor ❤️️🙏🏽

[@nuriaadbella9680]

I am so proud of you my brother . You achieved your goal well done . You inspires a lot of young people who went through the same path. I just heard your speech it is magnificent and you are a story teller . I am sorry what happened to you in past but, in my opinion , u are a winner , intelligent and bravery man. I am so thrilled to listen ur story God bless you my brother Keep up the good work!!

[@emmayardley4053]

absolutely wonderful. training to be a social worker and this has changed my outlook on the care system and how i feel about it, thank-you!

[@3first1]

You r one of a few people who can make me in tear, how emotional!!!!GBU

[@marthawalshwalah6445]

Thank you for deepening my understanding of the needs of children in care.

[@azebhadera629]

The amazing man in the mission to save the children's World.

[@saramoroza-james914]

I've just read your book and hungry for more of your writing and more of your story. Just wonderful x

[@johnhaworth7034]

As a child in care, then going through the adoption proess, and having to 'apply for your files' to unlock your previous life. i can completely understand this.

[@johngilman7871]

I still remember vividly the poem you read at the leavers assembly at Leigh c of e high back in 1983. Especially the part about the green hill. Then later in 1986 at the fringe festival in Edinburgh you inspired me then and still inspire me today. A really kind heart and lovely guy

[@eshetiebekele4381]

Really I am too proud of by your speech Really hero of the world and Hero of ETERNAL ETHIOPIAN POET!!

[@georginafitz81]

I've never forgot the time when you used to come into our school in old Trafford (old trafford junior school) to do poems n stuff I loved it I've never forgotten that! funny isn't it????

[@deb9784]

Beautiful! I am so inspired right now! Longing to make a difference! I have nephews who were in the Foster Care system here in the US! I can only hope and pray they can also begin to recognize the beauty that they carry! 🥲 Thanks for being such a living inspiration! 🤗

[@zebibaseman999]

I am so proud of you my brother I know how you feel.

[@martatcd3287]

Lemin! Lemin? Lemin..Lemin...Lemin. I love your speach...super hero!

[@wilheminaboone1107]

Outstanding! God bless you!

[@femylafi]

The state is the 'child's family'... so true in the sense he said it. Pity they don't treat the children as such. Its my opinion that most are more dysfunctional when leaving care.. Than entering.

[@bettywoldemichael9315]

Amazing!!!!!!!!

[@taliesinmusic]

amazing figure, brilliant presence, powerful message!

[@sebbysebby8771]

Oh look at his " lalibela " Cross 😍 !!!

[@nmariam123]

He knows how to put it,

[@njokimwarumba]

Let's make it okay for them. Our children. ALL of them.

[@Kmulat]

I AM LITERALLY CRYING

[@newoneforcall1675]

I am usually thrilled when I lesson to your speech and poet as an ethiopia.

[@eiffeltower7503]

It was a relief to know that you found your family

[@dawnandy7777]

Yes. What can we do for the kids in care now? Especially those that are about to age out of the system? Canada can't find enough people to foster, let alone adopt, the kids that are in the greatest need. There's hardly enough money to even keep track of the little bit of information that was recorded when they were taken into care. Don't ever stop telling your story, or the story of so many kids today.

[@spelaelizabetapahor9568]

Haaaaapy hapy birthday!!!!❤

[@hailegebreltechanederribsa8926]

amazing lemn

[@memywa2756]

You are Amazing

[@robelstudio]

you are such inspiration lemn

[@keysiawynn5214]

I was just so amazed by this. I am also glad that you lived and not survived. God bless you!!!!!

[@babetteanandagoldstein972]

SO good.

[@1989Fairytale]

Love, love, love , love

[@GeoffreyPhilp]

Brilliant!

[@adqueen2548]

He's awsome!

[@LilyGirma]

Amazing.

[@jazzie743]

Love you!

[@luliib800]

Amazing figure. Very inspiration keep up the great work brother 🙏

[@mailiane]

Amazing!

[@cabdulahiyare200]

Dvjhij Nnjnvj

[@jhondoe1877]

Speak your life brother much love god bless you.

[@vincentsimpson6512]

Saw you at TEDxSalford, you were just a good then

[@robertocalledecresta2312]

Nice one bruv. Keep on keepin on.......!!!!!!

[@jaynewhitely8023]

Excellent x

[@eauhomme]

In my state, any child who has spent 6 months or more in foster care after age 13 have a full-ride scholarship to any state community college or university. But the difficulty is getting them there. So many of them, especially those in unstable placements, don't even make it through high school. When their placement changes on a nightly/weekly/even monthly basis, when their placement is over 50 miles/kilometers from their school and their social workers and foster parents cannot get them to school on time consistently, what chance do they have? But even using that scholarship to get a GED is a step up, and helps prevent poverty and multi-generational foster children.

[@Xestra37490]

I love ❤️ 💕 ❤️ him. A beautiful soul

[@ro39able]

you are awesome :)

[@atalaymekonnen3681]

Simply African Hero !!!

[@MariaChungWilloughby]

:) I love him. :)

[@jalaljad]

Nice

[@solomonabebe4014]

WE,PRAWED,OF,YOU,I,M,ETH.KEEP,GOING,TNK,U

[@CourageDearHeart316]

His voice and some of his action reminds me of solomon bogale

[@user-xb5cv1cl5d]

Truly beautiful, I would love to have lunch with you one day. I feel this burden and gift to care for the uncle so strongly.

[@HH-sk9ju]

♡♡♡♡♡

[@sharonlee4773]

Norman!

[@sharonlee4773]

Tiresome

[@robertwalsh7966]

Then we need to recruit more foster carers that do a great job in looking after the thousands of children in need of a home. Its so easy to stand idly by, waffle on, pass comment and do nothing when you can make a difference and foster a child. I understand that many people cant foster because of commitments etc and that is fine. However, if you can please do, as there are thousands of children from 10yrs up seeking a family home, so that they to can enjoy the very same things that other children do there age in a family setting.

[@amanuabdu7181]

I readd ur book " my name is why" , it doesnt say any thing about the relation what u have with ur foster parent, do u have a good relation now with them? Please i wanna know badly...

[@OmarLakkis]

That it says nothing about that relationship says everything about that relationship.

[@endlesswave2685]

@@OmarLakkis correct!

[@1Amhara1888]

ዶ /ር ለምን ሲሳይ 😘 ኩራት ነህ 💚💛❤️

[@femylafi]

Social workers should not be emotionally involved.. this is the basis of child state care... and again... it cuts the children of from basic emotional relationships, and teaches them to hide their own emotions.. which comes out in other behaviour.

[@hornypervert3781]

femylafi The only emorions that should exist are anger and fear.

[@anaanguiano6658]

They donthave or rely on emotion because if they dod, they wouldnt kidnap them or hunt them down from their natural loving home and purposely place them with strangers who abuse them and are not checked on like the birth parents.

[@aynidawit6622]

u are wondefull.what is the meaning of lemean?

[@esayasg8629]

It literally means "Why"? Maybe his parent (s) had a very pressing question in their life when they gave birth to him. Metaphysical question.

[@mikefuller6959]

SHIT!!! Bring back McGonagall, all is forgotten!

[@fatotosaaccount4757]

STOP AMHARA GENOCIDE IN ETHIOPIA. THANK YOU. I BROUD YOU 🌷🙏✊✊

[@ramonam9251]

More people would adopt if CPS wasn't so brutal, vindictive, condescending.

[@shanmcdonough2933]

35.5 million 🤔

[@shaesmith9940]

Proficiently & purposely poignant!

[@ZYosef-sd7wu]

Such a hustler. If only people some could see through this minstrelsy of victimhood. This fake weaving of your story is getting very old. Have you no shame.

[@Irida24]

He is a highly acclaimed academic and a national treasure. He is the Chancellor of Manchester University, has set up different funds supporting people from underprivileged backgrounds and foster care leavers with educations. He organises charity events for them and is a published author and poet. What have you done in your miserable life? Belittling others of social media because you obviously have more time than brains is not exactly an achievement. My condolences to your parents for failing to raise a decent human.