'We agree with him that yes we can change the world, yes we can bridge the racial divides that still exist in the 21st century and yes, we can bring hope to the world,' Ms De Lille says.

'On his foreign policy he said that America must listen to the world and not lecture the world and that he would work with all nations to bring about peace and security.

'It is a very special moment for me because I was there in the crowd of 82 000 people in Denver in August this year when he accepted the Democratic Party nomination to run for President,' says De Lille.

'He ran a very positive election campaign that was solution-driven and focused on bringing about change. The whole world can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the militaristic, authoritarian and arrogant rule of George W Bush has ended.

'Now is the time for real leadership on attaining global security through dialogue and America's commitment to action on climate change,' De Lille says.

'The fact that a black man is to be the President of the United States is a sign to black people and especially black children everywhere that yes we can.'

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