Malaika Orphans in Uganda Receive Global Embrace
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By EADM Correspondent (Gallery)
In Summary: They hailed from Columbia, United States of America, Argentina, Iraq, China, Japan, Congo, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cameroons, Nigeria, Ghana, India, Mexico, Tanzania and Uganda but stripped themselves of their nationalities and assumed a new identity as global citizens. United by a common purpose, opened their hearts and hands, dug deep into their pockets, and received orphans in Uganda into the overarching global embrace. By the time the last drink was served, they had raised over $13,550,000 to offer hope to life where none existed.
Arlington, Texas-They came from most corners of the world and converged, in droves, at the Columbus Night Banquet Hall in Arlington, Texas for a charity Ball in support of Malaika Orphanage Children Foundation in Uganda. Not that they itched to dance away the chilly evening. Neither were they short on food and drinks in their homes. No. Not at all. They simply gathered out of compassion to offer hope, a warm embrace, and shine light to brighten the shadow of darkness that ominously hang over the lives of hundreds of orphans, whose language they could not even speak, barely living, thousands of miles away. On that chilly Saturday night last November, the diners dug deep into their pockets throughout the auction and by the close of the event, a total of over $13,500 had been raised as a goodwill gesture that extended a warm global embrace to orphans whose last names they could not pronounce.
“This support for orphans in Uganda is a reflection of the extent to which concern for children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is no longer a Ugandan affair but a reality that has captured the imagination of the global community. The entire human race has been impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic regardless of boundaries imposed by nation states,” a guest from India told the EADM correspondent at the event.
Betty Bengo Serunjoji, founder and president of Malaika Orphanage Children Foundation expressed gratitude to all the ‘global citizens’ who generously contributed to the cause of caring for orphans in Uganda. She pledged that the funds will significantly contribute toward payment of tuition, medical care, and food for the 201 orphans under the care of Malaika.
. “We are grateful for the generosity of our Annual Gala guests, volunteers and local businesses for making the charity ball a success,” she observed in a statement on behalf of the trustees and board of directors of the foundation. She disclosed that over 105 international guests attended the charity ball from nearly all corners of the world. The variety of dishes and drinks at the event were also as diverse as the guests and left many a diner spoilt for choice.
“Assembling all these guests from diverse communities from different countries around the globe is indeed remarkable,” one of the local leaders of the Ugandan community here told the EADM news team at the event. “This lady has indeed challenged most of us who are engaged in similar endeavors because she has mobilized an international community to support a cause that transcends national boundaries. While orphans especially of parents who have died of HIV/AIDS live everywhere in the world, none of us involved in soliciting assistance for them in this country have been able to get even a third of sponsors from nationalities represented here,” a guest from Kenya told EADM in an interview during the ball. The event was attended by the president of UNAA Monday Atigo, UAA-DFW President Lambert Etibot and the Kabaka Representative in Texas and his deputy Dr. Abu Senkayi and Frank Sentamu respectively.
Reflecting on challenges involved in organizing such events, Betty Serunjoji stated: “We couldn't have pulled this off without the support of our guests and well-wishers. Events as these are never successful without donations of money and time that everybody offered especially those who bought auction items and donated money to this cause,” she said. Responding to a question about her source of inspiration to commit her time, energy, and resources to serve the underprivileged, Betty Serunjoji stated: “Growing up in Kampala city, I saw firsthand, as a teenage girl, the abuse of women by their spouses and the neglect children suffered as a result of death of their parents. I also witnessed many underage girls married off. Children having children with no child support from spouses,” she tearfully recalled.
She also stated that after witnessing the hardships women and children in Uganda endure, she decided with her husband to convert a family property into a home for the most vulnerable. “That is how Malaika Orphanage Children Foundation was born,” she revealed, adding, “Malaika is a Swahili word meaning ‘angel.” She also disclosed that the Ugandan edition of the second annual charity ball and fundraiser will be held on December 19th in Kampala with the Chief Justice of Uganda Bert Magunda Katureebe presiding as guest of honor. It will be held at Christ the King banquet hall from 9:00-5:00 pm.
Who is Betty Bengo Serunjoji?
Married to Peter Serunjoji, the couple has three sons and all live in Arlington, Texas, USA. Born and raised in Uganda, Betty Serunjoji holds a Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from Makerere University and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center Kampala, Uganda. She was awarded a scholarship while working as a Counselor at Law with the Uganda Human Rights Commission to pursue a Master’s degree in Transnational Business law at McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California. She also earned a Master’s degree in International Human Rights from St Thomas University, Miami, Florida.
While in Uganda, she worked as an Attorney with various Human rights organizations including the Uganda Human Rights Commission where she was responsible for enacting laws to protect human rights in Uganda, a Counselor at Law, Legal Aid Project Uganda where she provided legal representation to the underserved population mostly women and children, FIDA Uganda as a public defender, Uganda Human Rights and Peace Center Faculty of Law Makerere University where she worked as a mediator, and worked with Uganda Human Rights and Documentary Center responsible for documentation of human rights violations and legal representation. She works full time for Malaika Orphanage Children Foundation registered both in Uganda and the USA. The foundation takes care of orphans aged between 1-16 years.