The Red Nose Day campaign to end child poverty returns in the U.S. on Thursday, May 25, in conjunction with a night of special programming and the third annual “Red Nose Day Special” on NBC.

One of the best ways to help vulnerable children in low-and-middle-income countries is by telling their authentic stories to those who can help make their lives a little better.

Along with Comic Relief, Ed Sheeran recently traveled to West Point, one of west Africa’s largest and most dangerous slums, in Liberia’s capital Monrovia. There he saw children whose lives have been routinely ravaged by poverty, the Ebola crisis, and an economy that was devastated by the notorious disease that killed thousands. Today, an estimated 14,000 children (some as young as seven) are living and working on Monrovia’s streets.

In Liberia, Sheeran shot a video set to “What Do I Know,” a track from Ed’s latest album Divide to bring awareness to street kids who live in Monrovia.

Red Nose Day, a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc is working to help some of the children Sheeran met on his trip.  To date, it has raised $1 billion dollars since its founding in 1988. Money raised goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which supports programs that keep children in need safe, healthy and educated, both in America and abroad. Beneficiaries include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity: water; Children’s Health Fund; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; Save the Children; and The Global Fund.

Sheeran also met two children whose stories were striking: Peaches wants to be a singer in church and JD, a street kid, who dreams of being Liberia’s president and would ensure children are fed and that they go to school.

Peaches’ story in video:

JD’s story:

I loved that Sheeran was so moved by JD’s story in particular that he wouldn’t leave West Point before ensuring that JD and some of his friends’ lives had been sorted out. Now, they are going to school and have somewhere to live.

If you are moved to donate to children in need visit rednoseday.org/ed.

DON’T FORGET: The Red Nose Day campaign to end child poverty returns in the U.S. on Thursday, May 25, in conjunction with a night of special programming and the third annual “Red Nose Day Special” on NBC.

Photo credit: Cherry Seaborn for Comic Relief