Friends, I recently became involved in a unique initiative: Canada-Uganda Youth Baseball’s Pearl of Africa Series. When I came on-board over a month ago, it was a small initiative that began with a local woman by the name of Ruth Hoffman. A non-profit accountant, Ruth experienced what kind of impact sports has played in her sons’s life. When she read an article in the New York Times back in July 2011, it had touched her so much as it did with many. The Ugandan Little League team was the first East African team to make it to the Little League World Series being held in Williamsburg, PA. However, the team of 11-13 year old boys were denied access to the United States mainly due to the fact that most of these kids are from the most unconditional areas in Kampala and did not have the required paperwork to be issued visas. In order words, many of these boys did not have birth certificates or even knew their birthdays. Aside from that and knowing how hard these kids work, how much it means to them to play in the Little League World Series, she could not just sit back and do nothing.
As the wheels turned and the dots connected, somehow Ruth connected with documentary film maker, Jay Shapiro who is working on a feature film about baseball in the most unlikely of places – Uganda. As this venture snowballs, it was decided that there should be an opportunity to play the game that should have been – the team that they were to play in their first round at the World Series should go to Uganda! With that thought, there was no turning back. The coaches, parents and kids of Team Canada were approached with this idea and buy-in was obtained. Now there was definitely no turning back.
Jay’s film, Opposite Field, will be covering this series and the adventure of these kids’ lifetimes. This adventure is more than just playing the game of baseball. Baseball is the perfect catalyst and platform to spur conversations and awareness for developmental issues and the issues surrounding 80% of the world that live in poverty.
I’ve come on board to their team – taken away by the issues – to head their social media and online presence. Currently working on their website, be sure to keep an eye out for that. But in the meantime, your donation and support would be mean so much to these kids.
With an overwhelming response of support, both monetary and in-kind, this cause is growing to become a lasting legacy…more to come!
Team Uganda 2011 – taken by Ruth Hoffman in November 2011
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