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Walter Lam

Mr. Lam founded the Alliance for African Assistance in San Diego in 1989 for the purpose of helping fellow refugees from Africa.  Under his leadership and guidance, the Alliance has expanded greatly over the past 16 years, serving thousands of refugees and immigrants from all over the world living in San Diego.  Services provided range from health care access and computer programs to providing assistance to refugees seeking to start or improve businesses.  He has secured support for these initiatives from public and private sources, including the City and County of San Diego and the United Way of San Diego County.

Mr. Lam was born and reared in northern Uganda.  Under political persecution, he fled to Kenya after his high school graduation.  He attended Egerton University and graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering.  Mr. Lam returned to Uganda in 1981 and worked in various management positions in government.  In 1986, again he fled to Kenya and later that year came to San Diego.  He is active in many civic organizations, including: the California Refugee Health Advisory Board, the California State Advisory Committee for Refugees, and the City of San Diego International Affairs Board. He is also a board member of the New American Immigration Museum and Learning Center.