The 61-year-old, who has dedicated more than a decade to activism, credits yoga and a loving marriage for helping her cope with her challenging work as an HIV/AIDS campaigner.

 

"At times I feel despairing, I really feel despairing, I feel despairing about the world," she said, speaking at the WOW - Women of the World festival to a packed auditorium at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London.

 

While seeking solace in simple things might sound "ridiculous", she said that many activists risk burnout due to the sheer vastness of the issues they take on.

 

She added: "I need to be calm because I’m so sensitised to all of it and I can’t switch it off."

 

Lennox also said that she has felt "loneliness" through her advocacy and has started The Circle, a network of like-minded influential female activists, working together to improve the lives of women and girls.

 

She sees her work as an opportunity to "stand shoulder-to-shoulder with women around the globe".

 

"My gender gives me the connection to these issues. Even though my skin is white, I speak for women of all colour because it's my gender, I'm part of that sisterhood," she said on Saturday evening, to huge applause.

 

When asked by an audience member how to get started in making a difference to the world, she said: "I will tell you what Bob Geldof told me when I met him one day just randomly.

 

"I met Bob Geldof on the train. I met Bob Geldof and I was chatting with him and I said, 'Bob, I really really want to do something about HIV/AIDS', and he said 'Well just fucking do it'."  

 

Watch Annie give her reasons why she is an HIV activist here.