All posts tagged Uganda:
Team Gomo Tong of Uganda is fielding a women’s team for this year’s first ever “Women’s Homeless World Cup” tournament. Here are several of the team members in candid shots provided by Ms. Anna Phillips of Girls Kick It! and Global Youth Partnership for Africa.
The games have begun; follow the link above (Women’s HWC) for up to the minute info and stay tuned here for updates on the team’s progress.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
We recently told you about my assistant, Jessica’s fantastic voyage to the Mighty UG. While there, she connected with an organization that for some might seem surprising to find in central Africa - the Uganda Skateboard Union. The power of play (and the skateboard) knows no bounds!
I was not surprised, then, when I received the following email from my friend, Christian Scott with Sole Technology:
Kevin - hope you’re doing well. We finally got the shoes through
Ugandan customs and the kids got their surprise. Check out the photos.
I just hooked up with a girl in New York who does a similar program for
kids in Jamaica so it looks like that might be our next target.Let’s talk soon
Christian
Seems that Sole Technology made a rather large donation to guess who?! The Uganda Skateboard Union!
The world gets smaller day by day.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
Skateboarding has invaded Uganda, believe it or not?!
Our own sport for social change agent, Jessica L. (second from left), made a recent visit to Uganda and discovered that skateboarding is not just an American exercise.
In fact, UG as Uganda is affectionately known, has its own Skate Boarding Union with website.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
From the Millennial Challenge blog:
Red Ball Drop Day #5: Finale!My last official day for the Red Ball Drop in Uganda, and Ball Drop #23 and #24, took place at the ENGAGE Uganda, Namuwongo Youth Soccer Tournament (attended by over 500 people) and Uganda’s School for the Disabled. 10 youth from GYPA who live in Namuwongo, some of which also participate in Gomo Tong Football Club, participated in sporting matches with the children and youth including, hand ball and tug-o-war. View the photos here and more details coming soon!
Red Ball Drop #23 - Namuwongo
We distributed 5 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls for the ENGAGE Uganda, Namuwongo Youth Soccer Tournament, which included more than 80 children in the matches.Red Ball Drop #24 - Mengo
We distributed 4 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 5 Molten Balls to over 200 children and youth.
In just 5 days here are the numbers:
Number of Red Balls and Molten Balls Distributed: 162
Number of Cities and Towns: 10
Number of Districts: 3
Number of Ball Drop Sites: 23
Estimated number of Ball Drop Uganda Beneficiaries: 3,000The GYPA staff will embark on Ball Drops in Gulu later this week, and some of the balls will be used for the Gomo Tong Football Club preparations and practices for Homeless World Cup Melbourne.
Stay tuned…
Jeremy Goldberg and Global Youth Partnership for Africa are on the front lines of the sport for social change movement. A lot of dreaming happens when kids are at play, kicking a ball around a yard or field. GYPA’s ball drops are like dream catchers, dream makers for kids. A ball can change a life.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
From Jeremy Goldberg’s Millennial Challenge blog:
A Break in the Ball Drop….
Like many people here in Uganda, I’ve started to follow the various early stage Olympic Games. Right now, I am watching Nigeria v.s. Japan in soccer (and Nigeria just scored the first goal of the match). In 1996, and maybe you wouldn’t believe it, but Nigeria won the Gold Medal in soccer. Don’t believe me?
Tonight I’ll look forward to the USA v.s. China basketball game. The stage is set for the U.S. to redeem itself from it’s terrible performance at Athens in 2004.
However, this morning, I watched Russia v.s. Iran. Russia, who has star NBA player Andrei Kirilenko, was the overwhelming favorite, and defeated Iran 71-49. However, Iran played a fantastic game and fans cheered them on throughout the game.
After the game was truly the BIG moment (and thanks to ESPN for putting this on their homepage). Reporters had questioned the team members about the tensions between Iran and Israel. In response, it is reported that Russian Coach, David Blatt (who holds dual Israeli and American Citizenship) and Iranian Team Captain, Mohammed Nikkah, shared a hug and pat on the back. The questions came about after an Iranian swimmer refused to participate in a pre Olympic meet because an Israeli athlete was competing in the same race.
This demonstration of hope, and friendship through sport - even in the face of prejudice - is alive across the globe.
In fact, to bring it back to Africa for a moment in 1999, the East and Central Africa Club Championship was being held in Uganda between two countries that have been in conflict for several years, Ethiopia and Eritrea. During their stay in Kampala, the media and locals reported that the teams were sharing smiles, laughs and a meal before the match.
There is more work ahead and the challenges are many, but sports is a way that we can further embrace cultures, societies, and peace in our world.
No doubt about it.
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
My man, Jeremy Goldberg, Executive Director of Global Youth Partnership for Africa and majordomo of Uganda’s Team Gomo Tong, is reporting live from Uganda. Here is his latest ‘Millennial Challenge’ blog post:
Today begins the Red Ball Drop Uganda. In preparation, I talked with local organizers, students and youth who participate in the GYPA soccer programming and peer-to-peer youth leadership training programs in Namuwongo. One of the common themes is that the youth want to get better at sports, but primarily want to become better leaders. In their mind, the more time they put in, the more they will get out. Essentially, “practice makes perfect.”
Unfortunately, too many kids around the world don’t have the opportunity to practice. Yes, because they do not have a ball, or the equipment needed, but more so because they don’t have role models, coaches or others to give them a pat on the back, or a thumbs up after great hustle. As the sports for social change movement grows, these important elements MUST be central ingredients, otherwise the movement falls short of its goals: to empower individuals, and uplift and fundamentally improve communities.
Fortunately for my organization, the Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA), over the past 2 months the GYPA youth in Namuwongo have worked with students from Northwestern University as part of the ENGAGE Uganda (founded by my friend and fellow social entrepreneur, Nathaniel Whittemore) program. The students, in collaboration with the youth implemented a peer-to-peer, life skills learning program with soccer, net ball and arts and drama as central elements of the curriculum.
Follow the link below to read Jeremy’s full post…
What’s your Red Rubber Ball?!
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