The Pearl of Africa Also Known As Uganda

By Lee Ann Pendergrass

Today our American team said farewell to the Fields of Dreams staff in Gulu.  What hearts, what passion and love they demonstrate over and over by assisting, believing in them and dreaming with the children so they can have hope and work hard for their achievements.  It is with mixed feelings that I leave Gulu. I watched how the children welcomed us at each school, met the staff at the different schools, developed dream plans with individual children whom I fell in love with, and watched the joy and smiles from the adults and children during the football tournament yesterday.  All this proves to me that people are more alike than different regardless of where you were born.

The real difference is geography, educational and employment opportunities.  Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa.  It is hard to see the pearls among the poverty and lack of opportunities.   The pearls in Uganda are hidden at times- hardworking adults and children, their strong belief in God, their respectfulness to each other, their smiles in spite of their circumstances, their excitement in football, their pride in their country, the ability to sing their national anthem and know meaning of the words, and love to smile and wave to strangers.

Could Americans become pearls to Ugandans?  Ugandans need a leg up not a hand out. To me, Fields of Dreams Uganda does this through their programs by combining the love of football and their educational dream plans. Fields of Dreams Uganda hires local people to help develop and implement the programs through football coaches and educational advocates. This is not a job to them, but a passion to see youth become serious and confident about their future. These children are the future leaders of Uganda. They will become pearls to their own country's future.  They in turn will have a ripple affect on other Ugandans.

I want to close by thanking each of you who have supported Fields of Dreams.  Your funds, prayers, encouragement, donations of items, time and expertise are your pearls to Uganda 's future.  As I return to Georgia, there are a few pearls in my heart from this nation.  I don't say farewell to my new friends and children in Uganda for I pray I can return to the Pearl of Africa.