Following the match between and Team Rwanda (Rwandan scholars) which can be read about here, our friend Valens, one of the Rwandan scholars, decided he would like to volunteer and help work with the street kids team. He had an incredible time and will be sending out a post about his experiences. For now check out a few photos that he took and wanted to share from his experience with the team:
Valens getting ready to play with the team.
The team practicing on the dirt field, that they get to play and enjoy one another twice a week.
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The team hanging out together. Serieux has worked with these guys for many years and has helped many of them leave the streets and to overcome drug habits.
We are so happy to announce the first coaches who will be trained by Play For Hope this upcoming year. Following are their names, team names, and where they will be coaching.
Now you can show the world that you support bringing hope to street kids in Rwanda. Check out the new designs boldly stating "I Play For Hope" available now for preorder until August 1st and coming out in the 2nd week August just in time for fall. Shirst come in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes.
Play For Hope has a great set of meetings with potential Play For Hope coaches this past week. Serieux and Christian were able to share their vision for changing lives of street children and children that have no positive activities in their lives. They encouraged the coaches and helped them to begin to understand being purposeful in their coaching. As well they were able to learn more about the teams and get excited about improving the training and the ministering that the children are receiving. Play For Hope will begin visiting teams this upcoming week and encouraging them and helping them to train. All of this will lead into a large training in September which will prepare coaches to go through our extensive training process.
The following is written by Lynda Weir, who works with Rwandan Presidental Scholars in Little Rock Arkansas and visited Rwanda this past summer and met Serieux Kanamugire and one of the street kids teams he has established:
As I watch the FIFA World Cup match on TV from my home in Little Rock, AR, I can't help but reflect upon another recent match I was privileged to watch in Kigali, Rwanda. It had many of the same elements as the World Cup, two teams playing full speed--with refs, coaches, and fans. Yet it was very different. Allow me to explain.
In my hometown, I work with a group of remarkable young men and ladies from Rwanda who are selected by their government to attend four years of university in the USA. They are given scholarships in science-related fields and are known as the Rwandan Presidential Scholars. One of the things they love the most and miss the most while in the USA is "football" or soccer. As their "Mom", I helped form a team for these guys, and then convinced my husband and brother to coach. I asked friends to donate so that they could join a local adult league to play in. Thus, Team Rwanda was born. Having had a rough start at the beginning of our league play (most guys never played an organized soccer match), I am proud to say that in May they won their division!
In June many of these players returned to their homeland for a one-time visit and my daughter and I joined them in Rwanda. Since we had met Brian and learned of his awesome Play4Hope ministry, we made arrangements to meet Serieux while in Kigali. Another generous friend sent some new soccer balls with me to share with Serieux. While meeting Serieux, two Presidential Scholars came with me. By the end of our great visit, they'd come up with the idea to play a friendly match, Team Rwanda against the Play4Hope team.
This game compared to the World Cup-
Unlike the glorious new stadiums in South Africa, our "field" was a dusty dirt bowl with 2 metal bars with no nets for the goals and with goats grazing on the sideline(they are in charge of keeping the grass cut).
Our Team Rwanda didn't have uniforms, shin guards or cleats...not exactly the snazzy gear that the World Cup Teams wear!
Our fans were comprised of a few family members and the local kids who were highly interested in the match between 2 "real" teams with a "real" ball. Admission was free!
Our opposition was a team full of wonderful young men who are trying to overcome a lifetime of struggles and homelessness that we can't begin to imagine... not the European League superstars who are worried about their 5 million dollar contracts! Our players played out of sheer love of the game -- imagine that!
Our game was a hard-fought match that ended in a 2-2 draw. Afterward we gathered together, took pictures, and prayed. Team Rwanda Presidential Scholars encouraged the Play4Hope team of street kids and vice versa...not quite what the World Cup opponents typically do after a game!
Our desire and prayer for our 2 teams and their players is that one day they may change their country and its future. The business of effecting change in Rwanda is the real goal...soccer is only a game after all!
Play For Hope is now on Twitter. You can follow us as we work to change lives of children in Rwanda at www.twitter.com/playforhope.
Play For Hope has joined IGIVE.com. IGIVE is a website that allows Play For Hope to receive a percentage of online shopping from over 700 popular stores.
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