Derreck Kayongo’s journey from child refugee to fearless visionary is filled with moments of inspiration (along with the benefits of good, old-fashioned sweat equity) that make him one of the most popular – and authentic – speakers on the circuit today. From Africa to Atlanta with nothing but a dream and tenacity, Kayongo beat the odds, earned an education, and has served in leadership roles in some of the world’s most respected NGOs since 1994.
Today, he shares his vivacious spirit and invaluable experience in the areas entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, global health, social justice and professional engagement with audiences in both the corporate and not-for-profit worlds.
“Derreck Kayongo has been a colleague of mine at CARE for several years. Derreck is not only a leader and social entrepreneur but also an agent of change. He has made it his mission to be a voice for the voiceless, poor and marginalized. He speaks with passion, eloquence and authenticity. His personal experience in overcoming tragedy at an early age and using the obstacles he faced as an opportunity to change the world around him is a powerful story of inspiration. He speaks from the heart with tremendous conviction, wit and humor about the power we all hold to make a difference in the lives of others.” — Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH President and CEO, CARE
Derreck Kayongo’s ability to motivate others to understand the role their work and skills can play in problem solving is one of the many reasons he has been nominated as a 2011 CNN Hero. Add to that the mantra of being a voice for the voiceless through his noble work of giving back, including dedicating his life to improving the lives of marginalized and vulnerable people across the globe. He has worked with the American Friends Service Committee as Program Director for the Southeast Peace Education program; joined Amnesty International as the Director of the Southeast Region; and currently serves as Senior Advocacy Coordinator for the Southeast region with CARE International.
In 2009, Kayongo and his wife Sarah embarked on a new journey pursuing their life-long passion of starting an NGO of their own. The Global Soap Project focuses on repurposing partially-used soap from hotels into new soap for needy populations, particularly in Africa. To date, The Global Soap Project has been able to donate 9,000 bars of soap to Swaziland, 5,000 bars to Kenya, 10,000 to Ghana, 1000 to Uganda and another 3,000 thousand to Haiti.
Awards: CNN HERO TOP 10 2011 Proclamation by the City of Atlanta May 2nd Global Soap Day signed by the City Council President and sponsored by Councilman Kwanza Hall.
Awarded the Outstanding service award for International Awareness and Involvement, Delta Sigma Sorority, 2011
Winner of MAXX Entrepreneurship and Marketing Excellence AWARD, 2010 Honored by Representative JOHN LEWIS with a Certificate of Congregational Recognition for Community Service, 2005 and 2007
Awarded the Special Recognition for Valuable Service to the University of Florida Recurso, 2005 Election observer and monitor for the CARTER CENTER under President Jimmy Carter’s leadership, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.
Model United Nations award for Service to the Poor. From the Canterbury School, 2006 Award winner of the Dekalb County Juvenile Court Community Service for excellence award. 2011
Affiliations: 1. Past member of the Lawrenceville Rotary Club 2. Past member of the United Nations Association 3. Former Board member of the East African American Business Council 4. Past Board member of the Uganda North American Association Atlanta
Founder and CEO of the Global Soap Project
The Uganda Diaspora Network is a forum aimed at bringing together Ugandans who live and work abroad by celebrating their contributions overseas and also encouraging them to give of their time, talents, ideas and expertise whilst inspiring the next generation of Ugandan leaders. Every year the Ugandan Diaspora Network will organize an annual Social Networking Gala and will also produce a quarterly publication highlighting the successes of the various Ugandans residing overseas. Please send us those inspirational stories and philanthropic work involving Ugandans abroad. We shall share these stories using this platform that is rapidly growing and expanding. The Next Diaspora Social Networking Gala will be Held on 30th December 2016 at The Kampala Serena Hotel.
BRAVO !!! Congratulations !
After watching you on Straight Talk Africa 2 day, I realised what Africa can do. Congratulations to you.
well done brother! ugandans support and pray for you. God bless you
Dear Mr Derreck, I am humbled by your courage, perseverance and vision. You have deeply inspired me with your Global soap project. You and your wife are more of Ugandans, with a big heart to help those who are not able to afford the basics of life like soap.
You remind me that, in life, our worth as men and women is not measured by how much money we are worth, how many big cars we drive, or if we have private jets or not, BUT how well we use what we have to change peoples lives, and to make the world a better place.
I am a Ugandan doctor ( obstetrician and gynaecologist), and also very passionate about preventing the needles deaths of women and babied during birth, and your project inspires me and gives me a boost to start.
Bravo
Asa
Thanh you very much for giving me the capital resource
thanks sir ,for wonderful job your doing on this planet
learning to remain innovative
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Am coming up with feed additive for poultry made from insect larvae any sponsor brothers
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