TikTok Star Khaby Lame joins UNICEF

Share to Google Classroom

Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok star, has been named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

The 24-year-old, known for his silent but expressive videos, made the announcement in his home country of Senegal. As an ambassador, he hopes to raise awareness about global issues and support children’s rights.

Lame became famous during the COVID-19 pandemic when he lost his job at a factory in Italy and started making TikTok videos. His humorous and relatable content quickly gained millions of followers, and he now has over 162 million fans. Despite his online success, he has not forgotten his roots. “All children can thrive when they are given a chance,” he said, reflecting on his own struggles growing up.

Senegal faces challenges like poverty and high youth unemployment, leading many young people to attempt dangerous migrations to Europe. Lame wants to inspire them to believe in their dreams. “Try and do your best to accomplish your dreams, even though there are people telling you that you cannot reach them,” he said.

Born in Senegal, Lame moved to Italy as a child but only became an Italian citizen at age 20. “My blood is from Senegal, but I feel Senegalese and Italian at the same time,” he shared.

During his four-day visit to Senegal, Lame met with young people working to improve their communities.

How did this story make you feel?

SMART Prep | Quick Question 210789

After visiting the marae, the class wrote reflections in their journals. Ben wrote that the carvings were beautiful and the meal tasted amazing. He also noted that the kaumātua welcomed the class with a speech, and the students learned how to sit respectfully during the pōwhiri. The bus returned to school at 2:30 p.m. Mrs Green said the visit helped the class understand local history better.

Which statement is a fact from the passage?

  

Did You Know?

Vocabulary

Click on the words in the article. See if you can find them all.

Thinking Question

Related Articles