Kevin Carroll Katalyst

“A Ball Can Change Your Life!” - I’ve shared those words countless times, to audiences large and small, locally and internationally. I always enjoy receiving affirmation of this premise from the global network of human catalyst that are using sport as a tool to positively impact the lives of others - in this case or KASE…the lives of young ladies from Kenya. Kase stands for Kenyan American Soccer Exchange. CARE and Nike teamed up to create a catalytic moment for young ladies from Kenya and their peers from cities around the US. The one thing they all have in common is their passion for the game of soccer/football - a ball would bring them together to listen, learn, and laugh.

10 minutes of viewing that will absolutely provide you with…inspiration and insight! Thanks for sharing the film, Wayne + JMG!

Learn more about CARE’s Sport for Social Change Initiative - I Am Powerful

Enjoy the short film and Enjoy YOUR chase!

From the Youth Noise website:

Making a KASE for Girls Soccer

Posted by:trinachi on 08/21/08

Today I’d like to recognize a collaborative sports effort that pushes for gender equality, teaches about AIDS/HIV prevention, builds life-skills for at-risk youth, and provides educational opportunities for women and girls in Kenya.

The team began with a few primary players: CARE (a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty) and their Sport for Social Change Initiative, Nike Let Me Play (a youth-directed program to fight global poverty and oppression through sports), and the Mathare Youth Soccer Association (dedicated to empowering impoverished youth in Kenya through sports and community service projects).

Once these three players got together to kick some ideas around on the playing field, they realized that they were unstoppable. They chose a team name—the Kenyan American Soccer Exchange, or KASE—and scored goal after goal empowering women and girls in Kenya.

The KASE Girls USA Tour brought Kenyan teams to the States to build relationships and play soccer. KASE also hosts workshops to train Kenyan coaches, build political and economic support for women’s sports in Kenya, and assist Universities in developing women’s sports programs. 

The Kase crew, in the midst of a multi-city tour, made it out to Portland in April; I remember seeing some news coverage of their visit. Beautiful cross cultural connections were made that could result in longterm friendships…and perhaps, change. 

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

It is truly a big world and the problems in it often require that those with more give to those with not quite as much.  Sport that creates or helps facilitate social change often requires travel - because the children of most struggling nations bear the brunt of poverty, disease and war.  Here is another story of people seeing a need - far away from home - and using the time and talent that they possess to help kids in need…

From Seacoast Online:

Soccer goal: Seacoast United’s goodwill trip to Kenya’s ‘win-win’
A girl’s homemade soccer ball puts life in perspective

By Mike Sullivan
August 03, 2008 6:00 AM

Life is all about perspective. Our perceptions of what is good, bad, beautiful, ugly or anything in between depend on the individual and what his or her collective experiences have been. Paul Willis and Matt Glode, the executive director and director of youth programs for Seacoast United Soccer Club in Hampton, recently got a crash course in perspective.

The pair embarked on a goodwill trip to Kenya, spending three days conducting a workshop for Kenyan leaders of youth sports organizations, and then spent four days assisting with a four-day clinic for as many as 60 girls a day…

Eve, 16, is the mother of a 1-year-old child, which is commonplace in Kenya. Eve loves soccer so much she actually plays it, which isn’t commonplace in Kenya. Girls playing sports is, by and large, frowned upon. And that’s putting it mildly.

Eve would sneak away from her home to locations where her parents couldn’t find her so she could play. If her father found out, he would beat her. The beatings didn’t stop her, though.

One day, her father was walking home from work and he heard a bunch of boys in a field calling Eve’s name. He stopped to find out what was going on and couldn’t believe his eyes. The boys were calling to her because they wanted the ball — she was the best player on the field.

From then on, the beatings stopped. The father understood. He realized this was good for his daughter and that soccer could, just maybe, help her find a better life…

Follow the link below to read the whole story…

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!

Thursday Shoutout is our time to feature those who have given us love on their websites or blogs.  This is our way of saying: Backatcha!

From Kenya over at the Info Spot blog:

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Great Book! - Rules of the Red Rubber Ball
I recently read a very inspiring book titled, “Rules of the Red Rubber Ball” by Kevin Carroll. This book was about how we all must find our passion in life and learning how to apply that passion to our careers, whether an entrepreneur or working a 9-5 for someone else. It’s important to have a career that you’re passionate about. Ultimately, the book is uplifting and definitely help me put some things into perspective and it’s very creatively written. If you get a chance to read it, let me know your thoughts.

Kenya, thanks for your kind words and I’m glad that Rules of the RRB inspired you.  Good luck with your real estate career!

What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!