Lhamea Lall

Lhamea was an unknown talent to me then, she took the stage to warm the audience up in preparation of the So Solid Crew. Lhamea went down a storm. She was young, good looking and sang from the heart.

The heart is where its at with Lhamea. I had the pleasure of interviewing her for an anti-bullying resource film later the same year. Lhamea told me about the dreadful experiences she had with the bullies at her school. She lamented about how a school is supposed to be a safe space for children, but the school could offer her no protection. The school was no help at all, in fact after many complaints and nothing being done about the bullying Lhamea had to change schools.

Lhamea epitomises the strength of Britains young people. She had the strength of mind and the strength of talent to overcome the bullying she suffered and went on to achieve great things in her already young life

Since first meeting Lhamea in 2003 I have followed her progress carefully, she has two very supportive parents who back her to the hilt and are always there to help her in any way they can.

Lhameas parents will regularly call me up to give a progress report on Lhamea or to let me know that she is appearing on the 10 o clock news and other programmes. In my opinion that is where Lhamea gets her strength from. She has two loving, caring and supportive parents. Through all the difficulties she faced they have been there for her. They are towers of strength and have been excellent role models for her.

2005 was another fantastic year for Lhamea. She again sang at the I Power I National Anti-Bullying Conference for Young People in July, where we awarded her the Damilola Taylor Young Achiever of the Year Award (Sponsored by Avon Salt). Lhamea and I, along with her parents, my daughter Sophie and the other Young Achiever of the Year Award winner Jamal Msebele, went for lunch with Damilola's father Richard Taylor several weeks after the I Power I event. Richard, a truly inspirational man himself, was so inspired by Lhamea that he invited her to perform at Damilola Taylor's 5th Memorial Event in remembrance of his son.

We introduced the Damilola Taylor Young Achiever of the Year Award in 2003, and since then we have picked two winners of this award at each I Power I Conference. The award is presented to young people who have overcome bullying and gone on to achieve great things in their lives in the face of adversity

In 2005 Lhamea also received the Princess Diana Memorial Award for her anti-bullying work. In November, during anti-bullying week, Lhamea went on to perform at the Anti-Bullying Alliances Showcase Conference in London, where she was on a panel with Alistair Stewart and Esther Rantzen.

Lhamea has achieved an awful lot in her young life, much more than I have mentioned here, you can find out more about her by visiting her website Lhamea.Com. She is an inspiration to young people but her newly found fame has not gone to her head. Lhamea is a very down-to-earth person. She has had a lot of offers of work and recording contracts but she is taking her time and choosing the right path for herself. Lhamea feels that it is very important for her to finish her college course.

Lhamea will be again performing at this years (2006) I Power I Anti-Bullying Conference for Young People. More details of which can be found at the I Power I website. She will be one of the highlights along with a host of other celebrities, young performers and specialists in the field of anti-bullying.

I have found Lhamea a pleasure to work with over the years and have been impressed with the dedication she gives her work, never have I see her give less than 100%.

By Andy Hickson, Director of Actionwork

Above and below. 2005 Damilola Taylor Young Achiever of the Year Winners at the I Power I Anti-Bullying Conference for Young People. Lhamea and Jamal