Futbols to The Dominican: Futbols 13 - 16

This past spring 4 futbols made their way to the Dominican Republic as a part of the work accomplished by Partners in Deed. Working to facilitate partnerships between Canadian communities and communities in the Dominican Republic, Partners in Deed have many community initiatives in the Dominican. 

You can learn more about Partners in Deed here. 

Above is a photo of Partners in Deed volunteers handing One World Balls over to teachers from some of the school projects. The balls will be put to use once school opens again this fall. 

Futbols 11 & 12

 The 11th and 12th of the One World balls traveled with my friends Bobby & Brian to Ethiopa. Bobby & Brian were a part of a HOPEthiopia trip and spent a month involved in various activities with the organization, and its sister organization Hope Rwanda. 

The guys were able to use the balls in a sports camp put on by HOPEthiopia through a partner school, and then pass the balls on to school for future use. Brian sent the pictures you're seeing and said the kids didn't have balls in good condition and were very excited to see the new (and a little different) One World Futbols. 

HOPEthiopia is focused on a holistic development model that comprises smaller projects such as agriculture, community projects, reforestation and a peace garden project. HOPEthiopia is focused on reaching the vulnerable of Ethiopia by serving orphaned children and retired pastors. For more information on HOPEthiopia visit their website and learn about their sister organization Hope:Rwanda here. 

are you hungry?

“People are hungry to be brought closer to the world, even its hard parts...I believe that which separates action from inaction...is not indifference. It is distance. May it fall away.”

Lately the word 'famine' seems to stick in my throat somewhere between the loss for words and a lack of understanding. And it's hard to grapple with the news reports. Sometimes the reports make me angry. Sometimes they make me sad. And sometimes I turn away from them and want to pretend I didn't see them.

And while East Africa experiences the worst famine its seen in 60 years I feel a world away. And I am. 

But just because I live in a world that is removed from what is happening doesn't mean I need to be removed. It's exactly when these things are going on that I need to become involved. Because we're not indifferent to what is going on. We just feel like action is difficult, and action needs to happen somewhere else. And so the good news is that action is here, and action is now. Maybe it's in a donation, hopefully it's in prayer. And maybe as we join in prayer with our brothers and sisters the distance will fall away. 

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The above quote is from the book Six Months in Sudan by Dr. James Maskalyk.  Here is the quote in full: 

“People are hungry to be brought closer to the world, even its hard parts. I went to Sudan, and am writing about it again, because I believe that which separates action from inaction is the same thing that separates my friends from Sudan. It is not indifference. It is distance. May it fall away.” 

Futbols 7 through 10

The 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th One World Balls travelled down to Chira Island, Costa Rica this past May with a service-learning trip through the University of Calgary's Centre for Community-Engaged Learned (CCEL). As alumna of the Calgary based Calgary Serves experience I was super pleased to be able to connect some of my One World Balls to the Calgary Serves group as they headed to Chira Island, and was equally pleased to learn the balls will be put to good use by the local school. 
Here is a note from Erin Kaipenein, director of the CCEL. 

We work closely with the Montero y Palito Elementary School each year, and each year, we try to collect donations of items that support their work. This year we were building a basketball net with the support of the community, and the school suggested that we bring sports equipment including basketballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, so we were really happy to receive the One World Futbols! The school children were delighted with the donations of crayons, markers and skipping ropes, but they were of course, most excited about the Frisbees from the Calgary Ultimate Association, and the interesting blue soccer balls from the One World Futbol Project.  Rather than donating them to community members, we donated the equipment to the school for use with their soccer team and soccer practices. I had hoped that we would be able to play a match with them (as we did last year) but this year our trip conflicted with exams, so the team had taken a break from practices. As a result, we don’t have any pictures of the team playing with the new balls...we did get a few kids out on a super hot day to scrimmage with us so I’m sharing a number of pictures of my host brother, Jefferson. We are convinced he may be the next Lionel Messi. Jefferson is in grade 1 and he lives for soccer!

Erin is anticipating soccer games on Chira Island with Jefferson, and the school, this coming may. 

Learn more about the CCEL 

Read the Calgary Serves blog 

Read the Calgary Serves blog post about the One World balls  

boats

I love this painting because... 

... it reminds me of the 4+ weeks I spent in Ghana's coastal regions. Nearly every day I would see the boats out on the water, and as I walked along the beaches I would find the boats pulled up in the sand, their nets piled high and the smell of fish thick in the air...And thinking of this time in Ghana gives me a moment to be thankful. 

Mostly though, I love this painting because it reminds me of the Great 8, where they were and where they are now. And when I see it I smile and whisper a little prayer for those very special little boys. And I say another little prayer for those who are working with FH to protect & love them.

And then I think of the kids like the Great 8 that are still in the coastal cities and on the lake; the kids that are still slaves. And I say a prayer for them, and for those who are working to fight their situation.

And with where I am, what's better than being able to do that?