|
 |
 By
Tiffany Kirkland and Erica Rountree
When Jon Akin accepted the position of head soccer coach at
Oglethorpe University, one of his first duties was to take inventory
of the equipment. He was surprised when he opened the door to the
storage room and discovered seven years worth of soccer uniforms,
including jerseys, shorts and socks. He was unsure of what to do
with it all until Oglethorpe’s head groundskeeper, Sharon Roth,
hooked him up with a retired pediatrician who had a perfect home for
the discarded uniforms -- halfway across the world.
Dr. Martha Rogers works with Reach-Out AIDS Prevention, a
non-governmental organization in Kisumu, Kenya. Reach-Out was
founded by Kenyan Hezekiah Nyaranga, who resigned his bus driving
job to work in his 8,000-person community on behalf of the more than
1,100 women and children who have become widows and orphans from
losing family members to AIDS. The Reach-Out facility is a four-room
building without electricity or running water that houses an AIDS
education center and a small clinic operated by a volunteer
community health worker.
In an effort to attract the youth of Kisumu and provide them
with an activity and AIDS education, Reach-Out has formed community
soccer teams. Because resources are extremely limited in African
countries like Kenya ravaged by AIDS and civil wars, their soccer
field is humble, but the children’s passion for the game is strong,
and they will improvise ways to play. "The field consists of a flat
area with foot-high grass and ankle-deep water in some parts" says
Rogers. "There are no field lines and the goals are two upright
posts with a board nailed across the top. Prior to our donations,
their ‘equipment’ consisted of two soccer balls, closely coveted by
the older boys, much to the dismay of the smaller boys. They play
barefoot, without shin guards, and the referees use old red shirts
for flags."
Rogers decided to help the youth of Kisumu by collecting soccer
equipment. "As parents of children in the United States, we
recognize the value of participation in organized sports like
soccer. Learning to work as a team, getting along with others,
striving for excellence, and working hard toward a goal are all
values we want our children to have and learn," says Rogers. "And
yes, the sheer fun of the game is what our children see as the
biggest benefit."
When she heard Oglethorpe had items available to donate, Rogers
collected seven large boxes, full of soccer uniforms and equipment,
and personally delivered them to Kisumu this past spring. "The young
men had dreamed of having real teams with real equipment and a real
tournament," she says. "Their dreams are within sight, thanks to our
donations."
What proved to be a little spring cleaning for Oglethorpe's
soccer coach turned into something much more for a group of children
thousands of miles away in Kenya. "Anyone who has played a sport
realizes that special feeling when wearing a uniform," says Akin.
"Now these children can share that experience and take pride in
themselves and each other."
If you are interested in donating additional equipment to
the children of Kisumu, Kenya, please e-mail
Martha Rogers. She is
still in need of adult cleats, soccer balls, flags, referee shirts,
volleyball net and socks.
###
|
