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.