It is early morning, just on the brink of sunrise in 1979 Uganda.  Twelve-year-old Derreck Kayongo is awakened by the screaming of his parents and the booming voice of a German soldier.  He is taken violently by the arm and led outside his home where his family and neighbors stand petrified. 

"Two soldiers were killed here last night," the German soldier said, "tell us who killed them, or we will kill you by firing squad."

With these words, the soldier summoned four villagers to the front of the line.  He proceeded to kill each one. 

A second four were called to his side, ending in the same result.  Finally, a man stepped in front of the group and confessed to the murders.  Derreck Kayongo watched as the German soldier shot the villager in the head.

It was after this night that Kayongo fled from Uganda, seeking refuge.  He was taken in by a missionary in Kenya.  There, the missionary educated and provided for young Kayongo.

Kayongo is now a leader for the humanitarian organization Care.  Kayongo visited the University of Tennessee on April 10 as a part of the International House's "Conversations on World Affairs" series.

I'm not here to beg for your help- your destiny is help. I'm just here to inform you about the fight. No matter how young you are, you can help. -Derreck Kayongo 

Kayongo began his lecture with this dramatic childhood story in order to open his promotion for the Care organization's efforts in Darfur, Sudan.

As the largest country in Africa, Sudan is comprised of several religious groups.  These groups have been fighting for their own independence since the formation of Sudan in 1885.

In 2003, the Darfur crisis erupted when two rebel movements merged to fight for peace due to political warfare.  The results have been grisly.

Since the war began, 2.5 million people have been displaced.  Three million are starving, and 400,000 have been killed.

UT students watched as overwhelming photos of starving children and ravaged villages streamed across a screen behind Kayongo.

"When we act as people to stop this thing called war, we don't have to see pictures like these," Kayongo said, "if we don't come to their aid, how can we ever look into their faces?"

After Colin Powell's visit to Darfur in 2005, the United States officially described the situation in Darfur as genocide.  Since then, the American government has done nothing.

Kayongo not only faulted the United States for its absence of aid, but he also blamed other African countries as well.

"The African government has been complacent in its roles, and we know that."  Kayongo said.

The Care organization works in 66 countries throughout the world.  The organization works to address causes of poverty by advocating human rights.

"I'm not here to beg for your help- your destiny is help," Kayongo said, "I'm just here to inform you about the fight.  No matter how young you are, you can help.  We don't want beg with you- we want to partner with you."