Richmond Wandera is the first person to be a former beneficiary of the charity and serve on the board.
Compassion UK said Wandera has an incredible testimony of transformation through his local Compassion project in Uganda.
"Through its local church partners, Compassion provides holistic child development programmes for children growing up in the world's poorest countries," Wandera said.
"This is a mission I am 100 per cent committed to and I am particularly pleased to bring contextual knowledge and different perspectives to the decision-making table.
"As a child I experienced love, hope and encouragement through Compassion, and it is a privilege to be working to give the same opportunities to thousands of others."
At the age of eight, Wandera learned that his father was murdered. It meant his family didn't have an income and his mother moved them into a single room in one of Uganda's largest slums.
Compassion UK said the family began to starve and one day his mother explained that there was no money for food, and sent her son onto the streets to fend for himself and his younger sister.
That's when a church nearby heard about the family's need and registered Wandera into their Compassion project.
He soon received news that he had been sponsored by 15-year-old Heather from the UK, who supported him through monthly donations and letters of encouragement.
Child sponsorship through Compassion links a child in need with a caring sponsor, providing healthcare, access to education, and nutritional, emotional and spiritual support.
Compassion UK said thanks to the support, Wandera was given the opportunity to attend university.
He has since set up the Pastors Discipleship Network, a programme that trains, strengthens and equips pastors throughout Africa.
Graham Williams, Chair of Compassion UK Board of Trustees congratulated Richmond on his appointment: "He brings such warmth, passion and integrity. I'm convinced that his first-hand experience of growing up in poverty will help us to keep the children we support at the heart of everything we do."
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