By Tiffany Bird
David Ssejinja arrived in America two years ago coming from Uganda, an African country slightly smaller than the state of Oregon.
The reason why Ssejinja came was purely educational. He is a student at Utah Valley State College.
But along with his school work, he is the president of the Ssejinja Children''s Foundation that raises money to help orphans in Uganda whose parents died of AIDS.
Tonight Ssejinja''s foundation is hosting a charity concert featuring LDS artists, Alex Boye and Providence, at UVSC raising money to build an AIDS testing clinic in Uganda as well as bringing food and clothing to the orphans for the holidays.
'We appeal to people from all over because it will be a Christmas concert to help the children in my country,' Ssejinja said. 'All proceeds are going to help us in building an AIDS testing clinic, and we will be sending clothes, wheelchairs and kits for Christmas as gifts from their friends in Utah.'
Ssejinja said Uganda has the highest statistics for death caused by AIDS, with almost one million deaths thus far.
The life expectancy at birth for a Ugandan is 45 years old, according to the CIA World Factbook. In 2001, there were approximately 600,000 reported cases of people living with HIV or AIDS and 84,000 deaths caused by it.
Ssejinja''s foundation targets the children who are left homeless after the death of their parents due to AIDS.
'It is very hard to be an orphan,' Ssejinja said. 'You have no parents, you are starving and you have no hope for the future. All my efforts and energy goes to help the children in the villages to educate them so they can have high hopes for the future.'
The foundation not only helps with the AIDS problem in Uganda, but it also helps with children who are orphaned by the war happening in northern Uganda.
Seeing the need for assistance in Uganda, Providence and Boye volunteered for the opportunity to perform in a joint Christmas concert where all the proceeds will go toward the foundation.
'Sometimes you just can''t donate thousands of dollars because you don''t have it, but we are able to donate our talent,' said Kerilyn Johnson, a member of Providence. 'It is so easy to look outside of yourself, and this is a great time of the year to do it too.'
Boye also said people may find it hard to donate money, especially for college students, but what little they can give goes a long way.
'You don''t need much money to take care of what''s going on down there,' Boye said.
Ssejinja said $10 will take care of one child in Uganda for a week with basic necessities such as food, clothing, education and improving the general well fare of the child.
The concert will also include the performance of a children''s choir to enhance the spirit of children.
'We want people to come out and participate in the concert,' Ssejinja said. 'It will be a good event for the children in Africa who are far away but they can feel the love and kindness of their friends in Utah. So we thank you.'
Johnson said students can get a two-for-one discount when they give the discount code, 8797, at the door or while ordering tickets over the phone.
For tickets to the Ssejinja Children''s Foundation Benefit Concert, call the UVSC ticket office at (801) 863-8797. And for more information about the Ssejinja Children''s Foundation visit www.ssejinja.org.