A Piece of the Life Changing Puzzle

By: Alex Oleck

A week ago tonight, Jeff and I arrived in Uganda. Anticipation and excitement were high but we had no idea what to expect. What I came to find in the week to follow can only be described, for me, as a great dichotomy between devastation and beauty. This gorgeous sun drenched country is also blanketed by poverty the likes of which I've never experienced. Children barefoot in torn up clothes, dormitories with no shelves because the  children possess nothing to put on them, wooden shanties for stores and homes, and the smell of burning trash and diesel permeating the air. Yet despite these conditions that most would deem inconceivable, you will find an almost tangible beauty that resides in the hearts, words, and smiles of the Ugandan people. Never have I been welcomed so graciously and so warmly as I was when entering the lives of the people of this great organization.

Over the coming days I was not just received by the Fields of Dreams Uganda family, I was embraced wholeheartedly. Within a day Jeff was proclaimed Uncle Jeff and I, Auntie Alex. I spent the week watching soccer, which is admittedly not my favorite thing even though I'm married to a coach. However, this week that all changed for me. Soccer became much more than a game but rather a unifying force that brought not only a community together but became a common ground on which Jeff and I could relate and get involved. These children play with incredible intensity and they are committed with everything they have because for most of them it is literally all that they have. I have never witnessed joy like seeing the U20 team come out victorious in their semifinal win after an intense and nerve wracking shoot out. Mike Warneke, executive director of FoDU, said it well when we were discussing the match that evening. He said "so often in our lives we encounter happiness but it is rare when we encounter joy. " And that is what it was at it's purest and most simple form. I'd surely bottle it up if I could.

The soccer was fantastic and yet it is just a piece of the life changing puzzle that is FoDU. Through education advocacy, opportunity for connection, dream building, and emphasis on the person inside of the player, FoDU's goal is to create men of integrity and women of substance. The children of this program led beautifully by the Youth Council, a selected group of older children who focus on leadership, are becoming and in many cases have already become the very best of what we could hope for in a person. They show courage in the face of great odds, they are cooperative and supportive of one another on and off the field, they are serious when it's required and lighthearted when it's needed. They are charismatic in victory and gracious in defeat.

Alex and Jeff with Eddy and Manisul, members of the Youth Council

Queenie and Alex

In just one week, the children, staff, and families of FoDU have bulldozed their way into my heart and life will never be the same.

Today before we departed we had the opportunity to share a Christmas celebration with the Ugandan FoDU staff and the Youth Council. Before enjoying a meal together everyone in attendance shared what they were most grateful for in 2015. From funds for schooling to make education even an option, to first job opportunities to curb the fear of hunger, from hygiene kits to aid in school attendance, from chickens that were gifted by the organization to provide the opportunity for entrepreneurship, to integrity training to build character, it is completely evident that FoDU is not only saving lives but they are making these lives worth living. FoDU set a spark of hope ablaze in the hearts and minds of these children and I will standby with privilege and pride as we watch that spark, one day, engulf a nation.

Through the Eyes of a Fan

By: Jeff Oleck

Alex and Jeff Oleck

Being a spectator at a soccer match does not come easy for me. As an Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, my attendance at a tournament usually means I am on the sideline evaluating players, taking notes, and interacting with coaches to ask the questions of, "is he committed yet" or "what graduation year is he?".  It is often a lengthy process to identify the player who will be the perfect "fit" for our soccer program.  However, during my week in Wakiso, Uganda I have been able to take off my coaching hat and simply enjoy the sport while admiring those who play it with such great joy and passion. 

The Fields of Dreams Uganda Hope Cup is a one of a kind event.  This tournament brings together teams from Masaka, Kampala, Jinja, and Gulu. It bonds cultures, tribes, and cements the idea that people have more in common than they have differences.  The players who participate have every reason in the world to not be on the pitch.  Most have endured tremendous hardships, persevered through poverty and lack of basic needs, or dealt the loss of a parent, or in some cases, both parents.  Yet, when walking up to the field on the first day of games you would have no idea that these players are any different. They are just kids playing the game they love.

I have been on the Fields of Dreams Uganda board of directors for just over a year now, yet my involvement with FoDU started in 2012 when I was an Associate Head Coach at Valparaiso University.  My knowledge and familiarity with our organization has grown tremendously over the past three years, but no conversation, Facebook post, or video could have opened my eyes to the work being done in Uganda like being here in person.  I have been overwhelmed while witnessing the positive changes that are occurring not only on the physical structures of our partner school campuses, but more importantly within the minds and hearts of the thousands of kids we support.  There is nowhere that these changes are more evident than on the soccer field.  Their character, integrity, grit, and determination has shone throughout the five days of games.  They have shown humility in victory and been gracious in defeat.  As teammates they have challenged each other to set a standard of excellence and held each other accountable to that goal.

FoDU Teams from Gulu and Kampala celebrating together

One of my fondest memories of the tournament occurred on Saturday when the FoDU North (Gulu) u20 Boys Team won a match in the groups stage of play.  This team and these players have endured decades of civil war and all the fallout that occurs within communities during such a conflict. They have lost family members, friends, and loved ones. Some of them have been displaced from their villages or relocated to areas where the conflict is less.  Often times, the cultures from the north seem very distant and removed from those in and around the central Kampala region, but the Hope Cup brought these young men and women into a safe and competitive environment where their skills and dreams could endure.  And not only did they endure, they thrived.  Upon the final whistle of the group play match, the FoDU central men's team rushed the field to join hands with their brothers and celebrate a special moment in time with them.  In one display of camaraderie and solidarity, barriers were broken down and everyone on the field was simply there for the love of the game.

I take great pride in seeing the game of soccer break down barriers and speak to people across cultures in one universal language.  I am so lucky to have been a part of this Hope Cup, to witness the tireless work of our FoDU staff coaches, administrators, and teachers who support and reinforce these kids' dreams every day.  There is no greater reward as a coach than seeing the actions of my players impact the game and the world in a positive way, so I cannot imagine the joy that our staff must feel when they have watched their teams play this week.  These players are overflowing with passion and purpose, but most importantly they are filled with hope.

Uganda--Twelve Years Apart

By: Keith Jenkins

After finding out about Fields of Dreams in September 2015 when the time for travel to Uganda finally came I really didn’t know what to expect. I’m so happy that I’ve made it and the experience is more than I could have possibly imagined.

Having said the above I was in Uganda in 2003 and have always wondered what might have changed in the 12 years since then. The opportunity to see Kampala again and now Wakiso district has been wonderful.

Mike Warneke has really inspired me and it his drive and passion that is central to Fields of Dreams. Although it is the amazing Uganda staff who facilitate the smooth running and the further reaching out of this fantastic organization.

Keith with members of the Youth Council

Furthermore, a group of incredible young Ugandans are truly a credit to their country and their communities. It is the Fields of Dreams “Youth Council” who have made the Hope Cup happen in 2015 and I feel so proud to have met them and to be a small part of this event.

To see the happiness on all the children’s faces playing soccer (football as I am a European) has been a joy to behold. The whole tournament has been played in a competitive yet friendly spirit throughout U12, U14, U16 and U20. From seeing so many children at the ground on the first day, having arrived a bit later than expected, to the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory for Fields of Dreams U20 Central Region leading to rapturous, emotional celebrations the whole tournament has been awe-inspiring.

Goalkeeper Training

In between the busy schedule of matches there was opportunity for some fabulous training with Coach Jean from Queen’s Park Rangers Ladies and also Jeff Oleck, a member of the December team, gave some great goal-keeping training. This training was at Wakiso Children’s School of Hope and it was wonderful to see the difference that Fields of Dreams has made and will continue to make to individual schools like New Kabaale Busega, and St. Kazito Primary School.

Beyond the football the ethos of Fields of Dreams is to build community and further, “Men of Integrity” and “Women of Substance” and I will never forget the many I met in Uganda in December 2015.

The rallying call of the U20s will also always stay with me, “I train, to encourage and inspire others. I train, because I have a purpose on this earth. I train, to make the world a better place. I train, to bring my dreams within reach. I train, to be successful in life. I train, because I am a champion!”

Thank you to Fields of Dreams Uganda and the wonderful young people who work with you.

“Never give up hope, always follow your dreams and make those dreams big”.

Keith Jenkins

Small Victories & Future Goals

By: Mike Warneke

As my time here in Uganda once again wraps up, it is so hard to put everything that our team has experienced together into perspective. Each day in Uganda feels like the emotional equivalent of a week, and then you blink, and your flight home is suddenly awaiting you. As the Executive Director for Fields of Dreams Uganda, one of my greatest joys is introducing people to this incredible land, and these most remarkable and welcoming people of Uganda. This week has been one of the best, as we have opened up a new world of possibilities for the teachers and students at our partner schools through technology, and the amazing donation by our good friends at MindShare, Inc. In fact we already have a report from one of our head teachers that when the students went home sharing their excitement about the computers with their parents and care givers, there is already a cry for some computer classes for adults in the community. FoDU’s work always has unseen ripple effects, and this is one that I certainly wasn’t expecting.

Members of the Youth Council

Rather than walk with you down memory lane, as our volunteers have done an incredible job giving life and breath to our week through their personal blogs, I instead simply want to focus on today, TOURNAMENT DAY. Tournament day in Uganda is a day like no other. It is a day filled with immeasurable joy, as children from our partner schools intermingle with a glorious mix of childlike wonder, and mature confidence in themselves. Each tournament is unique as different children display their talents year after year. Today was a special tournament for myself as I saw years of hard work paying off in big ways. Today we had some older boys from our Youth Council assisting with the day. They helped mark the fields and get them ready for play. They assisted as athletic trainers, commentators, groundskeepers, and ensuring that enough water was on hand for the teams. These young men epitomized the character and responsibility that we have attempted to empower within these bright young men and women of Uganda.

Cosmas and Devid at the Chicken Coop

During a break in the matches, two of these young men, Devid and Cosmas, brought me to the chicken house, to share with me their dreams and their devotion to this sustainability project that FoDU has instituted on their campus. Our driver, Frank Kavuma, delivered 300 baby chicks late last week, and these young men could not wait to show me what they are now responsible for overseeing. Devid even shared that he had moved his sleeping quarters next to the chicken house to ensure that he could care for them at all times. We laughed a lot, and dreamed a lot, and I was reminded what is possible when you listen, and then empower. So many of our projects, services and programs are a direct result from listening to the population we are attempting to develop and empower. Devid and Cosmas reminded me today that the future is bright here in Uganda.

Today was a special day on so many levels. We had the girls select team from Gulu take part in the festivities, in which most of the 24 girls that traveled to Kampala had never left the Northern Region. We had an amazing Music, Dance and Drama competition. Folk songs and traditional dances filled the air in Wakiso, and the children gave everything they had with their singing, dancing, drumming and acting skills. For the first time we had many children at age 10-12 participate in the football matches, reveling in the competition. But what will stick with me the most from today’s excitement will be the young men that are growing up into responsible, compassionate and dedicated adults.

The Select Team from Gulu

Music, Dance and Drama Competition

The work of Fields of Dreams Uganda is never done. We celebrate the small victories, take a collective breath, and then push on toward future goals. Our work is impacting thousands of lives in Primary schools in the Northern and Central regions, but each and every November children leave our programs as they advance to Secondary School. It is my dream to one day have our own secondary schools in the North and Central regions where we can continue our good work in the lives of these remarkable children, and find new avenues for them to achieve their dreams. I have been reminded just how much partnerships are key in making lasting change, and MindShare has gone above and beyond in creating positive change here in Uganda. I can only hope and pray that there are other individuals and corporations out there that want to uplift and empower these special children of Uganda as much as the staff and board members of FoDU. This is your invitation to dreams with us, so that Devid and Cosmas are the first of many successful young men and women to leave behind a legacy of hope for the young primary students to follow.

Hope is a Basic Need

By: Jennie Wellsand

Today was like Christmas to the students in the central region of Kampala Uganda. And somehow it felt like Christmas (maybe in Florida due to the hot weather) to me. The joy that took place at Wakiso Children's School of Hope was breathtaking. Today was tournament day for Fields of Dreams Uganda and the morning began with U-10 football matches. It never fails to perplex me how much talent are in these young boys & girls. I've made this statement before in prior blogs but watching these students (some being orphans) put on a soccer jersey with cleats and play on a good pitch makes you see them as champions....not a vulnerable child in a developing country. Seeing how soccer unifies the campuses & installs hope into the staff, teachers and students is humbling & an honor to experience.  

After the U-10 games our FoDU team was blessed by the MDD competition (music, dance & drama). Each partner school performed two 15 minute pieces that involved props, songs, actions and a story that embraced their African culture. Though I could not understand the language, it was amazing to see how much I could understand through their actions. It was also encouraging to see the hope that arose in each student at they performed & also as they watched their peers. The work, effort and energy that goes into these performances is outstanding - and probably just as exhausting as playing a full football match - have you ever seen a Ugandan dance?! 
The rest of the day consisted of football match after match. It was incredible to watch the younger boys and girls I first met during my first trip to Uganda three years ago now playing on the older teams - some are old enough that they cannot play! Those older students came to support FoDU, and it was amazing to see them there running the games! 

The girls Gulu select team came to the central region to play the Kampala select team. It was fantastic to see unity come between two different people groups. Their walls of brutal history came down as the blow of the refs whistle sounded and the ball was kicked around. Though the Gulu girls were planning on beating the Kampala girls 10-0, the result was a draw which I was pleased with...it's kind of like they both won?! I am so proud of everyone who played, performed an helped make this tournament happen! 


Today as I watched the games, enjoyed the music, and held a child here and there I realized how important it is to be instilling hope into these young people. When they don't have a hand to hold or a lap to sit in, they will have their Fields of Dreams medal from today to remind them that they are champions, they are blessed, that we love them, and that their future belongs to them. Most of these children, if not all, have hope in eternity & I often find myself being encouraged spiritually by them to see God's faithfulness. But to know that hope for tomorrow is a basic need & that these children can find that hope through the vehicle of soccer and education makes me happy. It makes me overwhelmed with joy to think that simple things like soccer and education keep these kids going. It keeps them from verging onto a path of destruction that they could easily fall into. It keeps them from giving up. As I write tonight I wish you could experience what I've experienced all day. I wish you could experience the pure hope, love and joy I experienced the whole day. Hope is a basic need and I pray you would share a little hope with someone like I was able to give and receive today.

A Spirit of Thanksgiving in Uganda

By: Jacob Winkles

When my family first asked me to come to Uganda, my first thought was: “Ha, yeah, right.” Now that I am here and have spent some time with the children at our partner schools and seen what Uganda and its people have to offer, I have to shake my head and laugh at my hesitancy. Any fears that I had before taking this trip have melted away and I eagerly look forward to meeting more people from this great nation every short day I have here.

    Being in this place and being around these folks makes me think of Thanksgiving Day. I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It just seems to bring the best things about family together for a day full of good food, sincere interactions, and just that incomparable feeling of being surrounded by people that truly care for you. Here in Uganda, that feeling is what seems to seep into me from when I get out of bed in the morning to when I lay down at night. The people of this country are tireless in what seems to be their personal mission of making me feel welcome and stuffing me full of good food all while showing no restraint and being so overflowing with joy that I am just swept along with them. That joy shines that much brighter when you see the struggles that they have to face every day, and yet they still get up every morning with an incredibly infectious grin on their face.

  

So, in the spirit of my own personal week of Thanksgiving, I just want to express how grateful I am for the opportunity to share some time with some wonderful people. I only wish that I could do more for them because they truly deserve it. They have made me forget the cynicism that I am sure we all carry with us and leave my defensiveness at the door. Whether it was children in the schools running and screaming to greet us when they saw our bus, the way teachers at those schools thanked us and heaped honor after honor on us, the way the students danced for us to show off their talents, or the way seemingly anyone in this country would tell us that we are “most welcome;” I cannot express my gratitude for everything they have done. I am thankful for the chance to just come and see people here living their lives. So, if someone were to ask me if I wanted to come back, I’d be halfway out the door by the time they finished their sentence.

Seven Days in Uganda

By: Becky Winkles

7 days in Uganda. Probably the most emotional 7 days I’ve ever experienced. Emotions of great extremes; both high and low. Relatively speaking, I’m a quiet and sometimes even shy person who really values her personal space…I’m not sure the people from Uganda really understand that kind of personality, and I’m beginning to think they might have the right idea. From the moment the kids at the partner schools (and sometimes even the teachers) see the van pulling up, there is a smile on their face from ear to ear until the end of the day when we pull away. Those kids radiate joy and it’s contagious. Every single one of them wants to know your name. Every single one of them wants to know your story, no matter their age. They are full of love and so willing and ready to share. Knowing and experiencing that…those are the high emotions.

At every school, there is at least one student who will remain in my heart long after going home. From New Kabale Busega, that student is Mugabi who is incredibly inspired and passionate about becoming a pilot. At Humble, it was a couple of older girls, Gertrude and Kristin, who spent a couple hours with me after the technology training playing basketball, netball and just being girls talking under a mango tree where they made me promise to remember them tomorrow at the soccer tournament ☺ as if I could ever forget. The little girl who made the biggest impact on me however, was Doreen from Wakiso, who only knew a few words and phrases in English but could speak with her eyes and smiles in such a way that words were almost unnecessary. Our first day at Wakiso she was an 8 year old stranger who grabbed my hand and gave me a shy smile. She spent the entire afternoon sitting by my side, so close that she might has well have been sitting in my lap. She stole side-glances at me every few minutes to see if I minded her playing with the fabric of my shirt, picking at my nail polish or playing with my hair. How could I? She is adorable. The second day when I got out of the van and expected to see her among the kids rushing to greet us and smother us with hugs, I was a little disheartened to not find her among the crowd. And then I saw her, in the very back, staring at me sheepishly as if she was just trying to see if I remembered her. My smile let her know I did and I was beyond happy to see her again. She ran and jumped into a hug that I’ll cherish forever. 1 ½ days with Doreen wasn’t enough, I can’t wait to see her tomorrow when we go back to Wakiso for the tournament. My heart breaks already, knowing that I have to say goodbye to her and so many others tomorrow and that…that triggers so many low emotions.

Over the past week I’ve shared life stories and created so many new memories with some of the most beautiful souls I could have ever hoped to surround myself with. Uganda is truly an amazing place with even more amazing people. They care, and they’re reminding me how to care too.

Leveling the Playing Field

By: Joe Winkles

Today was our 4th day in Uganda, and our 2nd day of technology training. We visited Humble United Methodist School today and were greeted by joyful children running up to the van with huge smiles, which is usual, and almost expected from the kids. But when we pulled up today, we were also greeted by joy-filled teachers and staff members. Their smiles, excitement and joy seemed to be almost at the same level as the kids. The teachers knew that today was the day we were coming to give them training on computers and the internet.

We provide this technology training to both the teachers and the kids, but today was a teacher training day only. A lot of the teachers had never used a computer before and were anxious to get started. They were filling the classroom ready to be taught before we had even finished setting up. This anticipation and eagerness to learn continued throughout the day. And it was not just from the teachers, but also from the kids. There were numerous times during the training today that the teachers would have to tell the kids to move out of the doorway. There was always a group there straining to see as much as they could without getting the attention of the teachers. And at any given moment, you could look up and see the windows filled with the heads of the older kids watching their teachers using the computers. You could just tell that they cannot wait for their turn to "play" on the computers. I too, am very excited to go back to Humble tomorrow and have the opportunity to be there with the kids for their first experience using a computer.

Earlier in this trip, we had gone through DREAMS plans with some kids, and Mike shared that when asking kids what they want to be when they grow up, the vast majority of the kids respond with doctor, lawyer, teacher, pilot or footballer. What my sincere hope is that in the future, when FoDU visits these campuses, they start getting some kids responding with dreams of becoming a computer engineer or programmer or game designer. Right now, those dreams would be completely foreign to the kids. But as they start using the computer, playing games, using educational apps, the natural inquisitiveness and creativity of the kids will naturally draw them to these topics. 

The beautiful thing about computers and the internet is it levels the playing field of the entire world. Anyone with access can learn about almost anything, and that is a truly powerful, and potentially life-changing resource.

The things that I will remember from today is the sparkle in the eyes, the smiles on the faces, the clapping of hands and raising of arms when they successfully completed a task. Each basic skill they learned filled them with joy and they responded in kind. With teachers like these, that are so excited to learn and share, so caring of the kids, I have no doubt that our efforts here today will benefit kids at Humble for years and years to come.

A Special Birthday Celebration

By: Alyssa Winkles

Today was July 29th, our 4th day in Uganda, and overall, a great day! As soon as we arrived, all the kids came out jumping and screaming. That made my day, within 1 minute of being there. The emotion of happiness and excitement stayed with me the rest of the day. I got to deliver school supplies to the head teacher, teach the teachers about computers, play soccer with the boys (and get the first goal during the game ;D ), and one very exciting thing, celebrate my 12th birthday!

I thought they brought all of us into the room with the Staff of Humble just to introduce ourselves, but all of a sudden, 100 kids walked into the room singing “Happy Birthday” to me! They sang and brought in a huge teddy bear cake. The kids counted down from 12, when it got to 1, some kids and I cut into the huge cake. The teacher cut the cake into really small pieces, and I got serve the cake to the kids! I was SO joyful to be spending my birthday in Uganda with 250 kids! I couldn’t have wished for a better birthday. I will cherish this moment with the kids for a VERY long time! It was unforgettable! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip holds!

Music & Technology

By: Ravi Budruk

Today, the third day of our Uganda trip was spent at Wakiso Primary School on the outskirts of Kampala. Each day, my being has been emotionally flooded with feelings of excitement and happiness simply seeing the pure smiles on these kids’ faces. Yet, I have also been torn seeing the hardships and suffering many of these kids have experienced in their past or continue to experience due to lack of simple and basic human needs.

To welcome us this morning, our FoDU team was treated with entertainment by the kids of Wakiso. The entertainment consisted of two parts. First was a traditional eastern Ugandan choir performance about the process of making bark-clothes the women wear to cover up. The powerful song was performed by over 25 kids who were perfectly synchronized switching back and forth between girls voices and boys voices, between group singing and solo singing. This performance was followed by a traditional super energetic dance performed to African drum music with a simple but awesome beat. I have travelled the world and been entertained by both kids and adults alike in performances that have been perfectly orchestrated and enthralling. But today’s entertainment stood out as being the most soulful and energetic I have ever seen. As I observed the faces, smiles and body language of these kids, it was obvious that their entire being was singing and dancing. Their hearts cried with joy as they rocked theirs bodies in rhythm to the drum music. My chest vibrated with the rhythmic beats. I sat transfixed but caught my hands and feet rocking back and forth wishing to dance in freedom but forced to act with decorum knowing I was one of the chief guests expected to act and behave as one.

I experienced an almost trance-like state as I completely connected with the children who were expressing an unbridled and unfettered joy of being one with themselves, performing to their best and being the best. Finally with one last drumbeat and with one last song chorus, it was all over 45 minutes later and I came out of my transfixion.

But that is when my philosophical juices started flowing and continued throughout the day as we delivered computer training to both Wakiso schoolteachers and students. I found myself enjoying the process of observing the excitement with which everyone focused on the possibilities that our 30 donated computers could bring to them. Between demonstrating mouse and keyboard usage, windows functionality and Internet usage, I could not help but wonder why the morning children entertainment stood out as the most amazing soulful music and dance I had experienced.

By the end of the day I was certain about my conclusions. I recognized that the kids of Uganda we have experienced thus far are some of the most pure thinly layered personalities. They have nothing to prove to anyone. They are operating from ‘ground zero’ so to speak. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They have only forwards to march. They have no one to act for in any particular way except maybe their teachers. They are truly able to be themselves with no layers of ego or arrogance. It is from this base that the kids performed. This base-level has given the kids real freedom to express their inner warmth, their inner spirit, and their inner nature outwardly through the beaming smiles, powerful vocal expressions and energetic body movements. Perhaps, we can all learn from these kids of Wakiso about how to set ourselves free in our own unique ways so that we can smile, sing and dance as we maneuver our way through life.

Forming Bonds and Changing Hearts

By: Dani White

I have never been on a “mission trip” before though I know plenty of people who have. I had developed a general set of expectations but, so far, has proven to be nothing like what I expected. I am entirely thankful for that.

The outpouring of love from the little people we get to serve is wonderfully overwhelming. I knew my heart would be touched this week but I didn’t realize just how much. The first school we visited was wonderful. I made little friends who will remain on my heart forever.

The school we visited yesterday afternoon and all day today proved to be a bigger challenge and such a greater reward. Upon our arrival this morning, I could see that they were a bit rougher around the edges, their clothes more tattered, and their demeanor more combative. Immediately I judged them. Soon after I passed judgement, God turned my judgements on their head.

The day did begin a bit rough, there was some miscommunication and unexpected circumstances that led to me being alone in a room of wild Middle Class and Top Class students (ages 4-6). God sent me an angel to help me coral them. Her name was Tina. This Primary Two (second grade) student who had seemingly come out of nowhere translated and helped me to corral and relocate the others.

Tina and I spent most of the rest of the day together. She is one of the smartest, most clever, articulate, sassy little people I have ever met. She was wise beyond her years. While sitting on the grass out in front of the building that holds the classrooms (after she saved my life) I noticed both her ankles covered in large scars. She noticed me noticing and immediately covered them. I immediately told her that she was a beautiful young woman and she had nothing to be ashamed of.

Later in the afternoon I ended up with TIna, her sister Doreen and some of their friends. We had an in-depth discussion regarding the English language and the pronunciation of different words. The amount of laughter I experienced was wonderful. There was SO MUCH personality in that little group of girls.

After the group dissipated Tina and I talked a bit more. I showed her the scars I have accumulated over the years and she ended up showing me hers. We did not discuss the circumstances behind our scars but we discussed the beauty they cause. By the end of the day she showcased her scars proudly.

Today I learned far more from Tina, Doreen and those other girls than I could have ever possibly teach them. I can’t fathom never seeing them again after this week. I have no idea what the future holds but I know I want to see them again, many times. I want to be able to see them grow into the beautiful young women I am sure they will become

Education and Reality

By: Jennie Wellsand

It always amazes me to sit in on classes taking place at our primary (elementary) schools in Uganda. Today I had the opportunity to observe the P4 & P7 classes who were studying science & health. As the P4 classes went through questions that will be on their exams next week, I found myself baffled at not knowing a majority of the answers. Though I've been out of high school for more than 10 years, you'd think something would have stuck about photosynthesis! The children are eager to learn & almost every hand was raised when a teacher asked a question. My brother is a middle school teacher and I wish he was shown the same respect these students show their teachers. One day I hope he can experience the classrooms of Uganda! 

After classroom observations the boys were trained to be men of integrity. Last year when the Fields of Dreams team handed out hygiene kits to the girls at our partner schools we asked the ladies what some of their greatest struggles are as a young woman living in Uganda. Slightly saddened and shocked at the response, their greatest fears had to do with defilement & rape. These girls are between the ages of 10 & 14 years old. FoDU wants to help make an impact to change the next generation of Ugandans so these women don't have to grow up living in fear of what will happen to them in the future. During integrity training we spoke about what it meant to be intelligent, non judgmental, in charge of ones emotions, trust worthy & other characteristics of being a man of integrity. The training time with the boys ended with each of them looking into a mirror shouting, "I AM A MAN OF INTEGRITY!!!" Then they received a bracelet that reminds them of that saying. 

Some of the female FoDU team members were able to have discussions with the girls about being honored & dignified. We ended our time together making up a song that said "Girls of integrity are brave... strong ... & honored." The Head Teacher, Aunt Rose described to us what it's like to grow up as a young Ugandan woman to the point of marriage....though our cultures are similar, they are drastically different. It was somehow difficult to hear that some girls are married off at a young age, but encouraging to know that the efforts of Fields of Dreams Uganda is empowering these young people to dream of a brighter future & know the difference of right & wrong. Though FoDU is mostly a soccer organization, they go to great lengths ensuring their footballers are more than just athletes. They are role models, history makers & people who are going to make a positive impact in their community, culture & world. I was highly encouraged today by the maturity of the young people of Uganda. Hope is a basic need & I've seen hope shared through our team, the FoDU staff & people I've encountered since arriving in the Pearl of Africa. My hope is for you to experience this greatness one day!