If I could sum up a few of my favorite things of 2011, I think it can be summed up by this: my experience to Uganda, Africa and my summer involvement in softball tournaments. When considering what I invested the most time into outside of my job, it would be these two experiences. I grew up playing baseball. I can still remember some of my earliest games in my backyard (I clearly remember my guilt when I broke the siding on our back shop), my first games of t-ball on the Burgundy team, and the feeling of joy when I received my varsity baseball jersey during my Freshman year. I have several uncles who played baseball very seriously, and grew up around the game and in the dugout as a bat boy. But whoever said that it’s simply America’s game has a challenge. A few weeks ago, I heard about the Ugandan Little League team as they became the first African team to qualify for the Little League World Series. News reports were noting that it was very difficult for the Ugandan team to get to the World Series as many young people do not even know their age and date of birth. While in Uganda, I saw this issue firsthand, as many children will never be able to leave the country because of the lack of paperwork. It’s incredibly discouraging to know individuals who suffer from this downfall of the economical and social cultures of Uganda.
There is a need for training, education, and assistance for the people of Uganda. Not just in the game of baseball, but in the process of citizenship and paperwork. Just by simply following this situation, my heart yearns for these children to have the memories and experiences that created my childhood. Watch the short documentary as seen on ESPN by Jay Shapiro. My heart breaks for these children, yet I am so encouraged by their heart, their desire, and their dreams.
Richard Stanley, a former Chemical Engineer with Proctor & Gamble, in connection with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is already taking strides to make this happen. I hope that some day I may connect with Richard and learn more ways to be a part of this young movement. For now, I simply imagine the possibilities, to be a part of a community of people that rally behind the use of sports such as baseball to educate young people and be a testimony of hope and encouragement. I wonder how I could connect the millions of children in the United States with simple ways to support their brothers and sisters on the other side of the world so that they can share in something that we all love and enjoy.
I was surprised to find out Uganda has a Little League team. Then I saw that and, not only do they have one, they have a pretty darn good one. It’s a shame they couldn’t make it over for that. Hopefully they get it figured out for next year, but the reality remains that lots of them just don’t have papers. I wish that wouldn’t get in the way of letting those kids play ball.