Coaching around a foreign arena

At the beginning of this calendar year, I was taught a song called “One People, One Color”. This song stresses the importance of abandoning segregation and encourages the integration of all groups of people to unite as one. Africa has seen apartheid, civil war, and genocide on multiple occasions. It is my job as a SWB member to continue to push the youth further and further away from such a negative outcome. Educating the youth through football (soccer) and life skills allows for myself, as a coach and teacher, to catalyze positive change within the hearts and minds of the youth everyday. 

Feeling the sense of accomplishing something larger than I have ever completed in my life, carries the greatest sense of joy and happiness. A little goes a very long way here - especially with the amount of times I merely walk down the street and hear 'mzungu, Hiii' ('white person' in Luganda), or the moment you make eye contact with a child, to then see their face light up with great jubilation.

Knowing I would be here for nearly eight months, there were many objectives I could set out and complete in that timeframe. Being able to interact with over one hundred kids throughout my time here has allowed me to realize there are many people that need help. My biggest expectation was making sure all of the kids, knowing my name or not, would learn at least one thing from me. Kids are not expected to remember everything you teach them, but with many coaches in the program, having them remember something from me would be ideal.  

The biggest challenges myself and the program faced, came from on the field. Throughout my initial months here, most of the kids had trouble integrating with the Ugandans (i.e. sharing the ball, conversing amongst everyone, treating everyone with respect)  – a majority of our youth participants are either Congolese or Rwandan refugees. Facing this hardship, especially at such a young age, could not have been more daunting for the kids as they tried to develop their soccer skills.

There are a myriad of skills I have been working on with the kids, but the three more prominent ones are communication, creativity, and respect. Communication is essential on and off the pitch and because there is such a large language barrier, communicating is vital to make sure the kids are on the same page as you are, all the time. Additionally, there is a strong need to make sure the kids have a strong understanding of the coaches while instructing them on and off the field. Creativity is key due to the constant need of keeping the kids interested in the message the coach is attempting to convey. Creating a safe and fun space in the center, and while playing, is critical to keeping the children entertained and honed in on what the staff is trying to communicate. Knowing that kids have a ten-minute attention span, getting them involved in creative games and activities are pivotal for the daily programming. Respect is necessary if one demands a certain level of admiration from the others around him. With the program being quite diverse and representing a few nations, the notion of respect is high on the staff's list of things to convey to the children. Numerous times, the Ugandan kids have perceived the Congolese kids as inferior to them. Even though there have been a few incidences where shoving had been an issue, verbal abuse or complete neglect had been most common. Over the previous seven months, this seemingly endless learning process has significantly improved, with nearly all of the SWB participants setting their premature notions aside and enjoying “the beautiful game”.

From now until I depart my ‘second home’ (on June 15^th), there will be no evaluation period for myself to measure the growth of knowledge and skill each kid attained. However, I can proudly say that if there was to be an evaluation tomorrow, each participant has risen to each challenge myself and the rest of the coaching staff has given them. Undoubtedly, all of the kids will be missed due to their constant warm greetings and affectionate personalities. But moreover, witnessing the youth’s willingness to learn, listen, and overcome adversity will be far more unforgettable when I reflect on this unparalleled chapter of my life.

A Birthday-Sized Donation

Katz Kadlic has a rare gift that cannot be taught. A Wellington School Middle School student opting for SWB donations, rather than receiving birthday presents, has set a new standard for young adolescents. Being an alumnus from The Wellington School (Columbus, OH), I am aware of the bright future the students behold, including their potential to become philanthropists. However, this seems to be the first time hearing of such a strong-willed young individual, to think, “out-of-the-box”.

I happened to run into Katz and his family at the Columbus International Airport, prior to boarding my plane to Uganda (in November). I had a brief opportunity to inform them on what SWB’s mission was and the tasks I would be assigned while here. From what the Kadlic family heard, Katz felt inspired enough to follow what I was doing here, all stemming from his love for the beautiful game.

Pitching an endearing argument to his close peers, while favoring donations rather than presents, Katz was able to raise a generous three hundred dollars. Sacrificing his birthday presents to help the kids here (in Nsambya) did not come as a significant surprise to me. Having coached him at summer soccer camps, he seemed quite keen on making sure others around him were having more fun than he was. Near the end of his birthday celebration, Katz and his friends composed a very thoughtful and colorful note commending my work here. Folding up the note, along with the noble donation, he made sure the valuables were in my mom’s possession prior to her visit here, a few weeks back.

Katz requested that the money go towards what was needed the most – ultimately decided by the interns and local staff. Following our new acquisition of the office space next to the Nsambya youth center as our new classroom, a recent coach’s meeting was spent compiling a list of items the new space needed. Based on priority and what is deemed as essential, a filing cabinet, chairs, bench-tables, and a white board highlight the list the SWB staff feels is key to making our new space complete and marvelous.

Thanks to one young bright-minded adolescent, the Nsambya site is fortunate enough to make some much-needed modifications, so our youth can enjoy an enhanced learning environment. Katz’s story is one to be shared with the greater youth, as he has raised the standard for fortunate unselfish youth everywhere.  

CKV family visit

The end of last week was capped with a bittersweet goodbye from my family. Having seen some familiar faces (from home) was a good reminder of how valuable friend and family is back in the states. Giving hugs and thanks at the Entebbe airport, I informed my worried mother that I would be home in no time. As they disappeared into the long queue for security, I went to flag down a taxi, which would return me to my Ugandan home. For the duration of the forty-five minute drive, the highlights from the previous eight days were on play in my head – the hotels, Lake Mburo, Gorilla trekking, and the Ubumwe Community Center.

On the night of my family’s arrival we went straight to the hotel. Walking into the hotel room, the feeling of ritzy masked my feeling of happiness. Having spent so much time here (in Uganda), I nearly felt my accommodations were too overwhelming for what I have deemed as ‘comfortable’ for the past five months. Trying to block out the high-tech gadgets around me, I merely embraced the mosquito net-free bed and quickly fell asleep.

The first two days spent, on the brief holiday, was out and about in Kampala. Other than having the great pleasure of listening to my family rant on about the unbearable African heat, much of the time was spent showing them around my neighborhood. The family seemed to have enjoyed the visit to my compound, seeing the SWB center, and participating in the kid’s training session; all of which were on their ‘highlights’ list by the end of the trip. I cannot begin to describe how great a feeling it was to be able to share something with someone (in person), rather than trying to describe the experience over the phone. The days in Kampala ran by quite rapidly and our journey took us towards western Uganda.

Entering the park at Lake Mburo was ever so exciting, thanks to the unexpected greeting of a family of warthogs, impala, and topei. A thrilling forty-five minute game drive through the park preceded our arrival at the Mihingo Lodge. The lodge sits on top of a large hill, overlooking a watering hole that was surrounded by zebra, impala, buffalo, and warthogs. Large tents sitting on tall platforms, supported by stilts, provided any guest with an amazing view and a ‘camp-like’ experience. Having to only fear the friendly snack-hungry monkeys, who might rip into your tent at night, allowed me to undoubtedly declare the Mihingo Lodge as THE place to stay (in Uganda). With a full docket the following day, one night and an early departure were all we were able to enjoy at the utterly relaxing lodge.

The first half of the next day was spent in the car heading to Rwanda’s Volcano National Park, where we would be trekking for gorillas. Having heard Rwanda was a very clean and safe country, I was eager to see what some of my friends had been raving about. The crossing of the border, and observing my initial glimpses of Rwanda, was as climactic as I imagined it – cleanly paved roads with proper roadside gutters, driving on the right side of the road, the foliage completely green, and the people full of smiles. Not trying to be critical of Uganda’s landscape or people, but maybe the government, Rwanda just seemed to have more money and strive to please their people and guests in any way they can.

Soon after crossing the border we reached our day’s destination – Jack Hanna’s house. My family had the great privilege of working with the Columbus Zoo on multiple occasions, resulting in some meetings and collaborations with Mr. Hanna. Once we were all settled in, a group of students working on protecting the gorillas welcomed us into Rwanda with a traditional tribal dance that we proudly participated in, and wished us best of luck when trekking the gorillas.

The following day started very early as we made our way to the Volcano National Park. Following a short briefing, we commenced our hike towards where the gorillas were supposed to be hanging out. After nearly a mile hike into ‘the bush’, the canopy opened up and we were able to spot some members of the gorilla family. The baby was struggling to climb up the tree, two females were hanging out high up in the largest tree, and the 200 kilogram Silverback was taking lunch; his daily consumption of leaves is roughly 17 kilograms. Halfway through our visit with the enormous primates, rain began to fall and we were forced to casually take cover with the gorillas. We all found ourselves within a few meters of the giant Silverback, merely staring in awe at this gentle giant. Only given an hour for visiting with the gorillas, we made our way through the flooded bush and drove back to the Hanna house. After cleaning up, we drove to Gisenyi to stay the night at a hotel, in order to be near our next planned activity.

The next morning was a very special one for my family and I, because we were visiting the Ubumwe Community Center – a place we have sponsored for many years, thanks from the help through the Columbus Zoo (and Jack Hanna). The two men that run the center are genocide victims, and wanted to use their second chance to help people in need. Blind, deaf, mentally disabled, and physically handicapped children and adults make up the majority of daily faces around the center. Classes and food are provided daily for everyone, and a large area in front of the center plays host to all sport-related and recess-like games. Being able to see the capabilities of all the students kept me in awe, knowing they overcame adversity to live a lifestyle they deem comfortable and joyous. Having to reach our next destination by nightfall, we had to say our goodbyes to everyone at the center, and hope to see them sooner than later. I would love to return there before my departure back to the states, so I could set up a daylong football (soccer) clinic, providing the kids and adults a surge of fun they do not typically receive daily.

Two days later I found myself where this entry began, at the airport saying farewell to the family members fortunate enough to visit me; I was very grateful for their visit, even though I hoped it was longer. The trip was filled with new sights, adventures, and people, all of whom none of us (on the trip) will never forget. 

My Ugandan epiphany

This past week has been highlighted with a controversial video campaign, the viewing of a stirring film, and notable home visits. Unable to pinpoint the root of my sudden revelation, it is best to say that a culmination of all three of the week’s occurrences provoked myself to take action. 

When I woke up on the morning of March 7^th and got online, my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with comments, statuses, and posts regarding the KONY 2012 campaign. Thanks to Invisible Children’s new video, the social media world was rocked by this viral campaign overnight. Not as much overwhelmed than frustrated, I promptly logged out of Facebook.

My ‘Facebook friends’ unnerved me because I assumed most of them were jumping on the bandwagon - a wagon leading them down a dead end road. Does sharing a link on Facebook show one’s deepest concern for an issue, or does sharing the link reflect one’s ability to give in to peer pressure? The comments posted by the individuals on my newsfeed, although meaning well, wrote with a sense of urgency and minimal reflection on their knowledge of the topic. The people sharing the campaign are saying how we need to stop the warlord, as if he is currently ripping kids out of their homes, and bringing them to his camp for brainwashing. Educating oneself on a vital topic, can only improve one’s viewpoint, hopefully resulting in a more effective pro-active plan.

By week’s end, the SWB programming had wrapped up, and the KONY 2012 partisan attitudes had relatively quieted down in the social media world. With Friday’s docket being nearly empty, Raphael (SWB-Kampala local director), Nick, Travis, and myself went on two home visits. The home visits consist of roughly a half hour to an hour visit to one of our regular participants’ homes. Upon our entry into their home, and following a warm welcoming, we make sure the parents are familiar with SWB and how their child benefits from us. Ensuing our introduction, we allow the parent to discuss anything they desire, as our way to show keen interest in the child and the family. Getting to know our participants’ families allows the organization to become more familiar with the community, and to ensure the participant is housed in a safe living space.

The first house we visited was the home of Grace and Yanick, both of whom are regular participants in all of our programs; both father and uncle gave us a warm welcome.  Topics including, SWB programming, the gentlemen’s feelings’ towards our programming, and the background info about us (interns), were discussed in the visit. To conclude, I was given the privilege of reading aloud a passage from the Bible, which talked about men working and living in unity; something the father thought was suiting for the work we (SWB) had been doing thus far. We said our gracious goodbyes and headed to the following home visit.

Not having to walk too far, we reached the next home quite quickly. Before heading into the home of Samuel, who is another frequent participant, we were confronted by a mentally unbalanced woman, insisting on inviting herself into Samuel’s house. Not ever fully understanding her relationship to Samuel, nor feeling the need to ask any questions about her (in general), we proceeded into the house. Once inside, we saw not only Samuel, but Yanick too. After introducing ourselves to Samuel’s mother, we were informed that Yanick’s mom had passed when he was a baby, and Samuel’s mom brought Yanick in. With this in mind, we were able to deduce why he did not resemble either of the pastors from the previous home; he had been living at both homes, wanting both a father and mother figure.

Being aware of Yanick’s past, and knowing there are thousands of kids with stories similar to his, helped ratify my belief that there are many benevolent and valuable causes locally, one can act upon. Instead of devoting one’s time to trying to have a lasting impact on something outdated, or halfway across the world, why not focus on making a change locally, where one can create a positive effect on the cause? Knowing I have been having an impact on Yanick and the rest of the kids a part of SWB, is far more gratifying personally, as I am able to witness the positive change firsthand.

Rather than focusing on something from the past, or something out of your own control that you may not be too educated on, one should devote their time to something they can make an immediate change on – an effective action using their own two hands. 

Back on the (SWB) grind

After a lengthy wait, I’ve returned from a three-week hiatus in the UK and Europe, with some great friends.  My time was spent meeting some really great people, seeing old and new sites, and making some lasting memories with the people I know best. Upon my return, I spent two nights in a guesthouse with Travis, a fellow SWB intern, while some students resided in our compound. The first of those two days were spent in the hospital, due to a bacteria nestled in my lymph nodes for three weeks. Following many tests, meetings with multiple doctors, and some antibiotics, I no longer resembled the twin of Sloth, from The Goonies.

Once I was back to full health, it was time to get back to work, assuming my full responsibility, and then some. While my other roommate, Nick, was still exploring new territory, the daily docket was a bit busier than usual; on top of the usual routine, we also took on the task of making changes to the daily programs, while making a strong effort to attract more kids.

Since the kids have returned to school, our daily numbers have been quite low, which is undeniably not ideal. In an effort to not only lure in more kids, one of our new year’s resolutions has been to become more diverse, in a way that will allow SWB to represent more African nations. Having recently met a Somalia-born Super League player, named Yusuf, I wanted to plan a meeting where he could introduce me to more Somalia-born refugees; late last week, we were able to have our meeting.

I was able to meet Yusuf at his home, in Kansanga, which took roughly fifteen minutes on a boda boda. He introduced me to some of his family members, drank some very delicious tea, and got into a serious discussion involving Somalia and Western media.

The discussion was sparked from talking about the area where the Somali pirates reside, which happens to be the same place his cousin is from. His cousin claimed that the area was actually not as bad as the media had been portraying it. Yusuf, who hails from southwestern Somalia, admitted to having not visited to that part of the country. Yusuf and I agreed that the media definitely plays quite the influential role, in portraying the way the rest of the world perceives that pirate-infested area. Having no disagreements, we wondered why the media seems so keen on persistent negative portrayal of such claimed ‘violent’ areas? What constitutes a good media outlet?

We came to the conclusion that immense amounts of people assume the media’s convincing reports to be true, if we are not seeing the evidence with our own eyes. The media exists to spread the news to a vast group of society, interested in something that they are unable to witness and account firsthand. The media is obliged to not falsify what exactly is being reported, and to hold the favoritism as well.

The two of us did not come to a rapid conclusion, or even a conclusion for that matter; we had recalled the actual purpose for the meeting. So, we decided to pick up our belongings and head out into the neighborhood. Having met earlier in the day, we might have been more successful, but I had the privilege to meet a few Somali kids – telling them about the mission of SWB and our goal to expand our daily participants.

Following a brief introduction, dusk was upon us, and it was time for me to return to Nsambya – I informed the kids how excited that I met them, and said my goodbyes. Yusuf and I agreed another meeting would be in store for the coming weeks, and I would make a stronger effort to help him gather more kids for SWB programming.