Honoring Dr. King: U.S. Ambassador Leads Day of Service at Bless a Child Foundation in Uganda

There is something profoundly human about the act of service. It transcends culture, geography, and time. On Saturday January 18, 2025, this universal truth found expression in Kampala, Uganda, where U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp, accompanied by staff from the U.S. Embassy and alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visited the Bless a Child Foundation to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dr. King, a towering figure of moral clarity and courage, once declared, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” It is a question that resonates across all boundaries, calling each of us to action. For Dr. King, service was not merely a suggestion but an imperative—an embodiment of justice, compassion, and hope in a fractured world.

Ambassador Popp’s remarks at Bless a Child Foundation capture this ethos beautifully:

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not only a U.S. federal holiday but also designated as a National Day of Service to encourage Americans to volunteer and improve their communities. Today, I proudly joined U.S. Embassy staff & Ugandan alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship to volunteer at Bless a Child Foundation. By helping to paint, garden, and play games with the children, we honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and commitment to service.”

In a world often consumed by self-interest and division, acts of service like these remind us that meaning is not derived from power or prestige but from sacrifice and connection. The Bless a Child Foundation, founded by Brian Walusimbi, exemplifies this principle in its mission to provide care and hope to children battling cancer. Hosting the U.S. Embassy delegation was not just a logistical event but a moment rich in symbolic significance. As Walusimbi noted:

“It is truly an honor to host the U.S. Embassy staff and Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni here at Bless a Child Foundation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador William Popp for leading your team in volunteering to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children suffering from cancer. As we prepare to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded of his legacy of service to humanity, which has been beautifully exemplified here today. These small acts of kindness create a significant impact for those enduring hardship.”

What stands out is not the scale of the work—painting walls, tending to the garden, playing games—but the intention behind it. To serve another is to declare that their pain and joy matter, that their existence has weight and value.

The children at Bless a Child Foundation, facing the unimaginable challenge of cancer, are a testament to resilience. The volunteers, in their simplicity of action, offered more than painted walls or cultivated gardens. They offered solidarity, a sense of shared humanity.

Dr. King’s vision of a “beloved community” is not abstract. It comes alive in moments like these—when people, from different walks of life, come together to uplift the most vulnerable. It is a reminder that our greatest strength lies not in what we achieve for ourselves but in what we do for others.