Derreck Kayongo overcame a childhood as a homeless Ugandan refugee to become the former leader of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and a successful entrepreneur whose Global Soap Project is sending recycled hotel soap to impoverished populations throughout the world.

Kayongo’s passion for helping others and commitment to innovative thinking will bring him to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Monday, Jan. 21, as featured speaker at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day convocation. The event, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Hatfield Hall Theater, is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

His “From Homeless Refugee to Living the American Dream” presentation will center on Kayongo’s personal guiding principles, coined as S.E.L.F.—Service, Education, Leadership and Faith. He strives to instill a spirit of entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving, while motivating others to invent their own self-made motto of success so they can create tangible change in the world.

“Derreck’s commitment to humanitarianism and inspiring others to make a difference are important messages as our campus community celebrates this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Camille Wallace, Rose-Hulman’s interim director of diversity and inclusion.

Most recently, Kayongo joined the board of trustees for Helen Keller International, an organization committed to improving the sight of vulnerable populations throughout the world.