Kigali, Rwanda 2010

        Rwanda is unfortunately known primarily for the 1994 genocide that ravaged the country and took the lives of approximately one million men, women and children.  Much progress has been made and Rwanda is now a rising star in Africa from a developmental standpoint.  The efforts at reconciliation, the community driven attempts at justice and the forgiveness demonstrated by many is unfathomable, especially in a country where many victims see the men who killed their families on a daily or weekly basis, living free lives, raising their own children in the same communities where they took the lives of others.  However, in spite of the successes, there is no question there are tensions still bubbling underneath the surface and countrywide trauma, guilt and brokenness is palpable. 

        Sports is important for children all over the world, but after a national tragedy like the one in Rwanda, it takes on an even more important role.  Sports gives children a healthy way to exert physical aggression.  Sports gives children who have been through trauma (nearly everyone in Rwanda) a physical therapy session.  Sports gives children, especially girls, who have experienced or witnessed abuse, a much needed sense of control over their own bodies.  Sports gives a chance for people to come together on the same team with those from other people groups, with whom they have been traditionally opposed, in this case, violently.  And the list goes on...

          In partnership with Nyanza Primary School and Ten Talents Int'l, we brought a group of 13, mostly adults, to construct a court that will be used for basketball and volleyball.  Our team was made up of several business owners, VPs of larger companies, a doctor, consultants and other people of influence.   Part of our mission is to help awaken a desire in our trip participants to serve the needs of the world in ways that align with their gifts, talents and passions.  It was exciting to see the creative power of our team being unleashed as they thought of ways to continue to be involved and help into the future.

         The team worked extremely hard building the court, but also participated in various other activities, such as playing games with street children in partnership with a bi-weekly feeding program, visiting an orphanage, touring examples of social businesses, visiting a church service, and probably most powerfully, visiting the genocide museum and a memorial as well as hearing testimonies from genocide survivors, haunting experiences to say the least.  The 8 days in Rwanda definitely made a huge impact in the lives of each team member.

        At the Kicukiro Genocide Memorial, you can visit the mass graves of at least 4,000 Rwandans who were murdered early in the conflict.  The field is not large, and it is nearly as difficult for the mind to imagine 4,000 bodies in a field as it is a million bodies in the country as a whole.   But, if you listen closely while you are at the Memorial, you might hear the laughter and joy of children playing in the school next door.  The school is Nyanza Primary school, home to at least 1,300 students and a newly built sports court.  While this project was one tiny step in the reconciliation process, it was a step, nonetheless, and an important one for those children at the school and in the surrounding community.

A special thank you to our court sponsors:

Sean and Ashley Rybar

Howard and Nancy Dietrich

North Pacific Management

Participants in our 2010 Ultimate Free Throw Challenge

And a special thank you for equipment donations from: Fair Trade Sports

While our mission of building a court was a very rewarding experience, our time with the street kids and the feeding program will be my highlight.  Seeing the kids’ smiles and unconditional love when everything they own is on them or with them, is very humbling.  They are so content and we never heard a complaint.  Their passion to sing and dance, despite their circumstances, will definitely make me think twice before complaining again.  I am also amazed at the simplicity of their faith and their ability to forgive. 

I'm convinced that we need them far more than they need us.  My prayer for myself is that these images and needs do not become a distant memory but rather a time of transition in my life to be more concerned and aware of the needs globally. 

I have been going through a lot of hard and difficult things for the past couple of years, so… I thought! I do know what I have been going through is real to me and has been really hard for me. BUT, when you see what reality is for so many others and what they are going through, it makes my stuff so small! To see everyone here and what they do to live (how they live) and to see them truly thankful for getting a piece of candy, or an old pair of gloves, shoes or anything else they can use, it’s simply amazing! I seriously want to be like them, I want the HEART they have, I want the JOY they have, and I want to be THANKFUL like them. They have been a testimony to me.

San Joaquin de Nicoya, Costa Rica 2010

        Outside the city of Nicoya, on the peninsula bearing the same name, in a community too small for any google maps,  a team of boys basketball players and coaches and coaches wives from the Shoreline/ Lake Forest Park area near Seattle ventured to complete a Courts for Kids project. 

        The team worked long hours but weren't too exhausted to play soccer games against the local boys every night.  The team had to endure monsoon rains, but instead of getting down, took it as an opportunity to get a good shower!  Our team worked, battled, and clawed their way to completing the court in time. 

       This project was a partnership with a Peace Corps Volunteer, the group of basketball players and coaches, and the local community.  Together we helped create for the youth (who make up 48% of the population of just over 1,000), one of the only safe places for the kids to play.  Currently, there is a nice soccer field, but the owner charges the kids 10,000 Colones (about $20) per hour to play on it.  As you can imagine, not many, if any, kids in this rural Costa Rican community can afford this and so the soccer field is relatively unused.  The community estimates that this court will be used by 85% of the population.

      To check out a great day by day glimpse into this project, check out the blog that the coach's wife, Amber, kept during the trip at www.hoopsincostarica.blogspot.com.   

      One of my favorite parts of the blog are words written to the parents of the boys from their coach, Brian Fischer: 

I wanted to let you know what a pleasure it has been working with the guys this week. I’m sure that you are enjoying the photos, but they don’t paint the whole picture. What you don’t see is the intense heat and humidity that beat down on these guys every day, then add in the afternoon rain which has left us soaked to the bone after every work day. I would like you to know that these guys have more than risen to the challenge and have been working like hardened men. They are strong and steady and have learned to be proactive workers who see what needs to be done and do it. They have worked through nagging pain and injuries (nothing serious), but continue to remain optimistic and never complain. I do not have the words to express how proud I am of these guys.

Falealupo-uta, Samoa 2010

       Fa'afetai lava.  Thank you Samoa for a wonderful partnership project.  Our team of 25 from the West Coast spent 8 days in the most traditional, remote place we had ever attempted to build a court.   Some obstacles we faced were

1. Only one concrete mixer on the whole island which meant we mixed all the cement by shovel.

2.  To get rocks we headed to someone's house, paid a small fee, backed up a pick-up to a hill, and shoveled rocks from the side of the hill down to the truck and then shoveled the rocks up into the pick-up.  We only did this about 20 times!

3.  To get sand, we drove down to the beach, backed up a truck and shoveled sand into the back of the truck.

4.  Supplies were in short demand, to buy an extra wheelbarrow would have been $250 US.

     But being in such a remote place also meant we were immersed into a beautiful, traditional culture.  There was no need for police officers or jails because all disciplinary measures were handled by the local chiefs and the punishments usually involved being fined in the most important currency- pigs!  The community had no less than four traditional ceremonies for us, a welcome and farewell kava ceremony and two dance ceremonies, one with the youth and one with the 'mamas,' the older ladies who prepared meals for our team.  Some of our team took part in the dance ceremony and were pretty impressive!

       Probably the most inspiring part of the trip was the ownership the community had in the court itself.  There were anywhere between 20-40 young Samoan men working tirelessly on the court at all times.  We would jump in and relieve them and help out as much as we could, but for this court, it was mostly their hard work that made it happen.   Then, when it was finished we realized why they volunteered their time and worked so hard.  The volleyball nets went up and the court was packed.  The same young men who were working so hard, were playing just as hard.  They love volleyball in Samoa and these boys could play.  On the final morning, even the mamas got on the court and played for about an hour and showed off their volleyball skills!  This court will be put to great use.  They tried to build one a few years back but couldn't purchase the supplies to complete it.  Needless to say, they were very grateful for our help and support!  We would like to thank Sports Gift, a non-profit in Southern California who donated balls and jerseys that we left with the community!

A special thank you to our major court sponsors:

Kevin, Annemarie, Tristan and Aidan Ryan

And a special thank you for equipment donations from: Sports Gift

I realize how blessed and fortunate I am but also how much I have to learn.  These people have so little, yet seldom walk around with anything but a smile on their faces.  They have shown me what it is to be content and grateful. 

A service trip like this creates a state of mind in which one can think about so much more than himself- the bigger picture becomes clear.  I will remember the lessons I learned while in Samoa for a long time, and I hope to participate with Courts for Kids in the future.

Two very different groups of people intertwined lives and sought a collective goal, both likely unaware of the extent to which one has blessed the other.  

My most rewarding memory of the trip was seeing all of the children playing on the court after it was finished.  I was filled with such a great feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment at seeing the joy we had helped to bring to these children.

Costa de Pajaros, Costa Rica 2010

      Costa Rica is definitely a second home for Courts for Kids.  In June 2010 we completed our sixth court in the country in partnership with Katy Volleyball Academy from Katy, Texas.  The group worked grueling hours alongside the locals to make this court a reality.  Of all the courts in Costa Rica that we have completed, in all corners of the country, the in-country Peace Corps director who has seen all the projects completed, has said that this one will go to the greatest use.  In his opinion, Costa de Pajaros is probably in the greatest need of any who have received courts.  This is a very significant statement, considering the last project in Costa Rica took place in a community that lived outside of a garbage dump. 

        Apart from a zipline tour of the rainforest, this group was all business, getting up at around 4am to eat breakfast and then catch a public bus to make it to the court to get started bright and early.   It took five intense days of work to finish it, but the team was able to see the completed court (minus the painting, which happens after the concrete cures), and shoot a few hoops with the workers. 

        A remarkable side note and a Courts for Kids first was a little family reunion that took place.  One of the girls in high school who went on the trip has a biological grandmother in Costa Rica who she had never met.  It just so happened that the grandmother lived  about fifteen minutes away from where the team was staying and so they were able to connect a few times.  This girl met not only her grandmother, but many, many family members as they came to the team's house and had a little family reunion celebration!

We LOVED getting to know the Tico men who worked with us, their stories and their work ethic.  we loved being able to assist in giving Chris' community something they truly needed that will affect their lives for many years to come.  It was truly something incredible to be a part of.

I will never forget this trip and all the things I learned, and the wonderful experiences that I had (and my body will heal :))  I wish you and Courts for Kids the best as you do your work and make a difference in kids' lives all over the world.

Shone, Ethiopia 2010

      It's hard to imagine a team with a more difficult travel experience than the group from The University of Wyoming Fellowship of Christian Athletes who helped build a court in a very impoverished part of Ethiopia.  The trip started around 4am when the team headed to Denver from Laramie.  Things were on schedule until a four hour delay in Washington D.C. made them miss their connection to Ethiopia in Frankfurt and forced them into a 12 hour layover in Frankfurt.  By the time the team arrived into Addis Ababa, they had traveled through the night and weren't able to spend a night in a hotel in Addis to recuperate.  Instead it was out the airport doors into the vans to drive six hours to Shone.  A little while later, their bus broke down, forcing them into another four hour delay while they awaited their new ride.  When it came, it was too late to make it all the way to Shone so they found a hotel on the way.  According to the team's count, by the time they actually made it into Shone from Laramie, it had been 66 hours of traveling! 

       The team showed their character when instead of complaining about the delays, they used it as an opportunity to come closer together, hear each other's stories and build unity.  By the time we made it to Shone, they actually had joy on their faces and were ready to work.  But we knew this was an amazing team already.  When we had the option of camping in Ethiopia or staying in a hotel with running water, the college girls on the team were wanting to camp!  The hotel ended up winning out, but only because Courts for Kids and Look Development insisted on it.  Needless to say, this was a hardy crew from Wyoming!

       When we arrived, everyone was blown away by the people involved with Look Development, our in-country partner organization.  This organization is basically the byproduct of a remarkable family who has tirelessly poured their hearts and souls into their community, which faces remarkable needs and obstacles.  It is a story of prayer, of joy, of contentment, of faithfulness and of power.  We worked hard, long, hours, but know that this court will be put to incredible use for years and years to come.  Furthermore, the impact on our team by the Ethiopian hosts and community will far outlast even the court.  

       The trip came to a close, the team did a clinic on the court, and then begin the long journey home.  In a fitting conclusion, the flight into Denver was detoured to Billings because of a strong headwind.  What's another four or five hour delay in the grand scheme of things?  If our team learned anything from our Ethiopian experience, it is that contentment and joy don't come from minor inconveniences and adverse circumstances!

One of our primary reasons for the trip was to ... cultivate an environment for people within FCA to have their eyes opened to a world vision and heart for serving and loving others.  I really think it would be hard to put a price tag on how the trip will make a difference in the lives of the 15 of us.

It's hard to even know where to start.  This trip has meant so much to me and I have so many memories.  It's not very often in life I can look back on an experience and say it was perfect, but this may be as close as I have ever come.

I realized that I am beyond blessed in what I have and where I'm at.  An example was the flies, I mean they had their own country out there, and traveled in battalions.  It just was bothersome to me since I'd never experienced something like that, and my complaining didn't help, but then I realized that people there lived like that their whole lives and will always in some cases.  It just really opens my eyes to just enjoy everything and grow from it.

This trip has impacted me in all angles of my faith.  Faithfulness, service, love and selflessness were all evident in the lives of these people, and I feel I have grown in these areas as well. 

Reparadero, Dominican Republic 2010

       Reparadero is a small, artisan town just outside of Santiago, in the central DR.  In the center of their town, they have a 'club,' a covered, open-air building that hosts community gatherings, events, and a medical clinic.  Behind this 'club' there has been an overgrown, empty field.  The community has envisioned turning this space into a place for their kids to play volleyball and basketball for the past 7 years.  However, they have not had the resources or funds to make this a reality.

       The first Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in Reparadero moved into the community a little over a year ago.  Her initial task was to complete a community diagnostic to determine the greatest needs of the community.  The overwhelming response by the community (over 50% of the people surveyed) said the primary need was for safe spaces for their kids to play.  Around this same time, she heard about Courts for Kids, submitted a grant application and got the process started.

       The American group who adopted this project was a group of high school students and adults from SW Washington.  We traveled down there during spring break and, with the help of the community, poured the entire concrete court in 3 days.  It was exhausting work, but well worth it to see all the kids flocking to the court playing basketball, volleyball and other games they were making up!  It was a beautiful sight.

       We couldn't have been more immersed into the community.  Our group stayed within a 2 minute walk of where the court was built and where all the meals were eaten.  We slept in the upstairs of a house being serenaded, (or kept awake, whichever way you look at it) at night by some upbeat Dominican music!  The community taught us traditional dances, fed us some traditional delicacies, and even taught some of our team how to make pottery.  It was such a rich, life-changing experience for our team.  The community is thrilled to have their court constructed but also to meet new American friends.

       On the final day, Daven Harmeling, former WSU basketball player, led a camp to teach the kids basketball and Kinsey Murray, teacher at Union, put on a volleyball camp for the kids.  It was a great way to end the trip! 

A special thank you to our court sponsors:

Major sponsor- John and Theresa Taffin

Several smaller anonymous contributors

This was the best week of my life.

This trip has opened my eyes to outside of my own little world and my comfort zone. I have learned that all the technology and little things I thought I needed I don't because being surrounded by friends and family is more important.

I have seen how fortunate I am to have as many opportunities as I do and that I shouldn't take them for granted.

It was amazing to see how similar we are to people in other countries even though we can't speak the same language and live totally different lifestyles.

Check out more pictures at our Courts for Kids facebook page.  Become a fan!

Binong, Indonesia 2010

       Our second court building project in Binong, Indonesia was completed this spring break with much collaboration.  First off, just outside of Jakarta, Karawaci Youth Sports League is a soccer/basketball league where kids from various socio-economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds come together to play sports with one another.  Leadership from SPH, a private Christian school, and several public schools with strong Muslim majorities are represented in the leadership of KYSL.  We constructed a basketball/volleyball/ badminton court at one of these impoverished public schools.  Two American groups also participated in this project.  First, a group from Southern Oregon's Fellowship of Christian Athletes spent their spring break working on the prep work for the court.  They also did the majority of the fundraising for the project.  After they left a local contractor completed the pouring of the court.  After it was finished, a group from the women's soccer team from Corban college in Salem, Oregon, traveled down to paint the court.  They are also doing a soccer clinic for local children while there.  For this project, Courts for Kids provided behind the scenes administrative support.  A big thank you to Jason Myers, a good friend of Courts for Kids, and athletic director/basketball coach at SPH, who spearheaded this project from Indonesia and made all the moving pieces fit together!

Stay tuned for more pics...

Rameswaram, South India 2009

       Rameswaram is an island 35 km long, just off the coast of India, connected to the mainland Tamil Nadu province by a 4km bridge.    We partnered with BCM Ministries, an organization doing incredible work reaching out those who fall through the cracks of the caste system.  We met girls who had been abandoned by their mothers at birth because poor Indian mothers cannot afford the dowries for their daughters.  We met girls who had been left on the edge of railroad tracks as babies left to meet their fate by an oncoming train.  These kids and many others will be the ones to benefit from the first sports court on the entire island of Rameswaram.  The community was so thrilled with the court, they planned an enormous opening celebration complete with ribbon cutting, traditional dances, speeches, while 700 kids in addition to parents and other community members watched in anticipation.  Once the ceremony was over, the kids stormed the court and began to shoot baskets.  For most, if not all, it was their first time to dribble or shoot a basketball.  When one of the kids made a shot, the other kids would burst into celebration, arms pumping into the sky.  It was a sight we won't forget for a long time.

        The group we brought was made up of people primarily from Southwest Washington, with a family from Central Oregon as well as a family from Yorba Linda, California.  Kevin Ryan, Courts for Kids board member, assembled the team, many from an organization called Christian Youth Theater in Vancouver, Washington.  Below are some quotes that describe the impact this trip had on their lives. 

The big take away for me was to see uniformed children and American teens working to push wheelbarrows of concrete together, crossing cultural, spiritual and generational boundaries.

Ultimately it was me who was blessed.  With each smile and hug and small hand I held, tears welded in my eyes.  These people have only known me for just a few days, some only hours and yet they love me and welcome me as family.  This made my heart more full than it has ever felt.

The lasting mark we made with innumerable twist-ties, rebar and concrete will last a long time, but the individual ramifications of services and love given freely here on both sides are eternal and will live on in my heart and imagination for the rest of my life.

A special thanks to our court sponsors:

Kevin and Annemarie Ryan

Joe and Barb Lochner

Cocori, Costa Rica 2009

        Two years ago, while building a court in southern Costa Rica, we stumbled across a community called Cocori.  This community had a profound impact on our group, as it was situated on the outskirts of the county garbage dump.  We couldn't ignore the images of the kids chasing Frisbees through the trash without shoes.

        Needless to say, when the community identified a lack of safe places for their kids to play as one of their most pressing needs, and applied for us to partner with them to build a sports court, we were thrilled!

        Fast forward to this spring break, where the project became a reality and we sent a team of 31 students and adults from SW Washington schools to build this court and participate in the life of the community.  The project was a partnership with Alex Stanchfield, a Peace Corps Volunteer who was stationed in Cocori shortly after our group visited two years ago. 

        The court was completed, the team worked hard, and they had opportunities to spend time in the schools, play games with the children, eat local food, spend some time in the garbage dump, and soak up the entire experience.  We are confident that this trip impacted them forever.  Many of them want to go back to Costa Rica, in fact, one of the team members is spending this summer back in Costa Rica, helping at a school among other things! 

        No community has thrown such a lavish celebration when the court was officially opened.  Complete with name tags, gifts for our team members, ribbon cutting, it was very evident that Cocori was excited with its new addition.

When the court was complete and the kids were playing basketball, I felt like I had completed something with meaning for the first time in my life.  I've completed tasks in my life, and school projects, but nothing can compare to what I did in Costa Rica.  I helped impact an entire community, words can't describe that feeling.  I wish the kids of Cocori could know how much they impacted our lives.  On this trip I learned a lot about myself, and what life is truly about.  Just because I'll be arriving back in America doesn't mean I have to stop making a difference.

This trip was truly amazing.  The atmosphere was so relaxed and the people are incredibly friendly.  I was at first very frustrated at the fact that there were no clocks, but then I realized that it was better to live without one.  Back at home, everyone is so rushed and is so busy that the basic gestures of kindness are often ignored.  The school was so grateful to us for volunteering our time.  It was amazing to see how a basketball court can make a community so amazed and happy.

Being with the kids has made me a more kind and compassionate person.  We are all humans and deserve the same respect and kindness, and to help each other.

The project was so well organized and the building of the court went so smoothly.  I was proud to be a small part of making this happen for the kids in Cocori!  At one point my son said to me, "This is the most amazing day of my life"- pretty significant for a 17-year old!

A special thanks to our Cocori court sponsors:

Major Sponsors: Don and Karen Russell

Also sponsored by: Rick and Robyn Dillon, Eric Stanchfield, Diana Wampole, James and Michelle Collins and others

Santa Cruz, Costa Rica 2009

        Santa Cruz , Costa Rica is a small community five hours south of San Jose, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the hub of the indigenous Costa Rican population and the epicenter of Del Monte's Costa Rican pineapple enterprise.  Through a genuine partnership with Jenna Balkus, a Peace Corps Volunteer from Northern Virginia, Don Miguel, chief engineer at Pindecco (Del Monte), and a group of 13 sorority women from The College of William and Mary, we completed a basketball/soccer court for the community of Santa Cruz.

        The children of Santa Cruz have few opportunities, many of the mothers are single parents; abuse and violence are common problems, especially to women.  One of the very recognized values of sports is on young women who face violence and abuse.  When girls grow up playing sports, they can develop a sense of power and control over their own bodies, which is essential to stop the cycle.  We are excited for the impact this court will have for many years.

        Our team from William and Mary might have worked harder than any other Courts for Kids team.  Countless hours of wheelbarrowing, mixer loading, shoveling and carrying cement bags left everyone exhausted.  But all the hard work paid off when they saw that last square of concrete being poured, knowing that their work in Santa Cruz would last for years and years!

What I learned was about myself; my ideas on 'human nature' shift.  Going abroad puts your life in to a different context, and the contrasts the unusual make from the everyday give new perspective.

Coming on this trip I was really nervous.  I didn't really know what to expect and a few times I almost backed out, but for some reason I wouldn't and now I know why.  Yea, I could've just donated money, but you never realize how much it means to do the work yourself.  It may be a small difference and it may be hard work, bruised legs, heat rashes and sore muscles, but it's the sense of accomplishment that you did it, especially when you didn't know you could is what makes this trip humbling and something I would never forget.  In just 7 short days, we've done so much.

Gulu, Northern Uganda 2008

        Our last trip of 2008 was to Gulu, Uganda, the site of one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history.  Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), has terrorized northern Uganda by abducting children and forcing them to do unimaginable acts.  Most of the children we met had in some way been victims of this horror.

        The court we built is in Kaunda Grounds, in the heart of Gulu Town.  Countless kids flock there daily and this court will give them a much needed positive alternative.  Sports have a unique way of bringing hope and purpose for young kids as they recover from trauma.  In fact, many non government organizations in Gulu are attempting to use sports to help in their efforts.  Our court will be a space where genuine healing will take place.

       This court was a very challenging project.  One of our steps was to put a layer of small stones on the court before pouring the concrete.  When the truckload arrived with boulders, and the only tool we had was one sledgehammer, you can imagine our disbelief.  After going to buy some more sledgehammers, it took 2 1/2 days of the hardest work imaginable to finish.  Needless to say we made quite an impact on the locals; this wasn't exactly work that they were used to seeing 'white people' do.

      In addition to working on the court, our team was able to take part in a number of other activities.  We visited the shelters where thousands of children would migrate to nightly escape the threat of abduction from the rebels.  We also visited an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp.  It was so sad to hear stories from 19 year old young adults who were born in the camp and that is all they knew of life.  The kids performed some of the traditional Acholi dances that are being used for therapy.  We took up an offering and bought them new drums and other equipment to use.

      Our group took some time to visit with two organizations, Invisible Children, and Compassion International.  We were inspired to learn ways that we can continue to help support the people of Uganda when we get home.

      One final personal highlight was being hosted for dinner by one of the Acholi tribal elders.  In fact, our host was the chairman of the Acholi elders during the initial peace talks with Joseph Kony.  It was amazing to listen to his stories.  Plus, they served a feast of food from their garden and even killed one of their goats for our team.  We didn't watch the slaughter, which was good news or bad news depending upon which member of our team you asked.  Regardless, it was such an amazing cultural experience.  We got a taste of the richness of the Acholi culture, and it helped us understand northern Uganda as a region not only of devastation, but of beauty and hope.

"I love the community in this place and that is one thing I hope to take back home with me- to greet strangers, to include the loner, to open my heart to the people around me."

I knew coming into this trip I would go back changed.  However, I didn't expect ALL of my views to change.  I feel that by coming here I have found my calling."

They challenged my way of speaking, thinking, living and showed me how to love life for what it is, and not regret it for what it could be.  Perhaps the most important truth they exemplified is that happiness does not come with money, comfort, peace, or convenience, but with love.  It is such a simple fact, but often forgotten in our fast-paced way of life."

A special thanks to the Gulu court sponsors:

Dr. Scott and Glenda Burns, Sean and Ashley Rybar, John Taffin, Pfizer,

Derek and Selene Nesland, Marna Kaady, Rob Kyne, First Presbyterian Church,

David and Caryl Ann Copenhaver, Hinton Development

Ho, Volta Region, Ghana 2008

        On May 12, 2008, the George Fox Women's Basketball Team traveled three hours outside of Accra to Ho, in Ghana.  Our group built a sports court for Sonrise Christian Secondary School, a new school of approximately 400 students that opened it's doors three years ago.  The primary language of the school, and of Ghana in general, is English.  The group stayed on campus in the 'dorms' with the students.  For most of the week, we took bucket baths; running water and electricity were a rarity, but in the process, we learned about simplicity and contentment.  A direct result of the common language and staying on campus, was deep relationships forged between the American team and the Ghanaian students.  It was amazing to see the way both groups impacted each other and broke down many stereotypes along the way. 

          The people in Ghana were incredibly friendly and hospitable.  At the school, the students would help carry our bags, bring us water for bathing, and even wash our clothes.  At first we resisted their generosity, but by the end, came to be inspired and challenged by their service to one another, one of the hallmarks and deeply embedded values in their culture.  We were also deeply moved by their joyful way of life, their singing, dancing and celebrating.  They even taught the American girls a traditional tribal dance, the Bobobo. 

          The court was a genuine partnership between the two groups.  At times there were 80 people working on the court.  As a result, we were able to finish the entire project in three days.  The court will be used for basketball, volleyball, tennis and even badminton.  Sport Court of Oregon donated a a state-of-the-art net system that will accommodate the three net sports.  On the last day, the George Fox team did a camp for the students and taught them basketball.  It was so inspiring to see the kids line up around the court so eager to learn how to play basketball.  And then, as we were leaving, we saw a number of kids out on the court practicing the drills we taught them.  The court will definitely get plenty of use!

          In addition to the court building project, the team also was able to play a soccer match against the school team, we traveled to the Village of Hope, an orphanage featured on the Oprah show, to teach the kids in the orphanage how to play basketball.  We also did a canopy tour in the rainforest and visited the Elmina Slave Castle, the world's largest slave castle, a haunting experience that was powerful and unforgettable.  We noticed the crown that sat atop the biggest church in Amsterdam (we had a short layover in the city), was the same crown on the Elmina Castle walls.  We noticed that directly above the slave dungeon was the Dutch Reformed Church building.  What great lessons for our team about religion and power, and the dangers of a faith that is separated from and immune to human suffering. 

          Overall, it was an experience the young women will never forget.  And we have been assured that our impact on the students at the school was just as deep.  Here are some quotes:

"These amazing kids taught me what it was like to truly be joyful and to work hard and love it.  They taught me what the true meaning of love is and humility along with that.  I wish I could feel the amazing feeling I had at that school all the time..."

A special thanks to our court sponsors:

Phil Doud and Sport Court of Oregon 

Ujarrás de Buenos Aires, Costa Rica 2008

          A group of 21 students and teachers from Camas, WA spent their spring break building a court for a small, rural community in Southern Costa Rica.  Ujarrás de Buenos Aires is a community of indigenous Costa Ricans who live on a reserve.  Their community sits in a valley between two lush hills at the base of the Talamanca Mountains, a truly picturesque tropical landscape.

          We were 30 minutes away from bottled water for the team, a 10 minute walk to the nearest telephone, and the best option for a shower was in the local river flowing through the rainforest.  This was truly a world away from Camas, Washington for this group.

          We were able to learn a lot of the traditional culture that has been passed down from generation to generation and is still taught at the primary school.  We learned how to mash corn, which leaf could cure which sickness or illness, and how to shoot a blow gun.  What an unforgettable experience for the students.

          The community also has its share of problems.  Domestic violence, absent fathers and alcoholism are some of the most common.  The community is very rural and has no central place of gathering.  The court we built will be used for school classes, sport's teams, and a central place for kids to gather and play and be given a positive alternative to drugs and alcohol.  Few communities have a sport's court in Southern Costa Rica and this one will be used in so many positive ways. 

          Partnering in this project with our group were The Peace Corps, Del Monte's branch in Southern Costa Rica and the local community.  It truly was a joint venture.   Below there is a picture of a plaque commemorating the court sponsors.  The four hands around the plaque symbolize this partnership between the four groups mentioned above. 

Here are some quotes from some of our group members:

The fact that their relationships were so personal and they were so close to one another, there was such a great feeling of belonging even though we only spent 6 days with them.  I've never been somewhere that has welcomed me so much

Basically this whole trip is one big memory for me.  The things we did for the community and everyone who helped make all this possible.  I will always remember.  This has been the best week of my life!

It is always the feedback from the local communities themselves that determine whether what we are doing is truly positive.  The quote below is from the Peace Corps Volunteer who hosted our group.  He has been living in the site for two years and has deep ties and connections within the community.

I had an incredible time with you and the group.  Like I said before, this was by far the highlight of my Peace Corps experience and I will always remember it with fond memories.  I think what you are doing is an amazing thing for not only the community that receives the court, but the kids that go on these trips as well.  I really believe in what you are doing, so if there's anything I can do for Courts for Kids, please let me  know. 

And we'd especially like to thank our court sponsors: 

Joseph Lochner, Kevin and Annemarie Ryan, Rob Kyne, and Brett and Dawn Wilkerson

Guarari de Heredia, Costa Rica 2008

          Guarari de Heredia is a only five hour drive from from Ujarrás de Beunos Aires, yet it is worlds apart.  Guarari is an urban community on the outskirts of San Jose.  For a good comparison between the two, in Ujarrás we were able to put a bronze plaque near ground level just off the court to commemorate our sponsors.  In Guarari, we had to attach it to the basket, because if it was at ground level, it would have most likely been pried off and stolen.

          Guarari has many problems with drugs and crime.  The day after our group departed, there was a drug bust, where 600 people were arrested.  As you can imagine, this court will be a huge asset for their community.  Prior to this court, kids would need to walk 30 minutes to get to the nearest court.  It is no wonder that as soon as the concrete was dry, the kids were constantly swarming it.  Even in a torrential downpour, the kids kept playing. 

          The biggest impact on our team of 18 students and adults from Vancouver, Washington was probably how tight-knit the community was.  Our group was mostly made up of females and I think they surprised the locals with their work ethic, determination and strength.  But the community came out and spent hours of their own time volunteering right alongside our team to make sure that the court was getting finished.  On the last day, they threw a big celebration for our group, with music and food and dancing.   Our team was deeply impacted.  I think it was a great example of two cultures coming together helping each other out.  Below are some quotes from our team:

The memories I have obtained from this trip are completely life changing and unforgettable. I was introduced to a new lifestyle that is 100% different than what I have been living my whole life.

I learned that no matter what material possessions you may have, nothing compares to family and friends.  This week you could see that these people didn't have very much, yet they were always happy and loved their families more than anything.

And we especially want to thank our court sponsors:

Don and Karen Russell & Rick and Robyn Dillon 

Agua Blanca, Honduras 2008

          A group of student-athletes from the Southern Oregon chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes went to Honduras this spring break to undertake the most ambitious project ever attempted by Courts for Kids.  Agua Blanca is a mountainous town with no flat land.  Literally 1/3 of the future court was sloping down the mountainside.  The group from Southern Oregon spent their week moving dirt the old fashioned way, with shovels and wheelbarrows.  They helped build two enormous retaining walls to prepare the site for the court.  After the group left, the local contractor and his team are finishing the court.  We'll post finished pictures as soon as they come. 

          Agua Blanca is a very low-income community.  The court will literally be the centerpiece of the community.  It is right next to the one room school house, which was recently built and is the primary meeting place.  The community was so grateful and threw our team a big party on the last day.  Our group was also deeply impacted by the warmth and hospitality of the community members in Agua Blanca. 

A special thanks to the court sponsors:

Play up 08, Mountain Christian Fellowship, Timothy Welch, Malcolm and Michele Munson, and The Chad Cota Athletic Foundation

The gift of sports for a community- Costa Rica 2007

         In April, 2007, we took a team of 26 volunteers from Southwest Washington to Tierra Prometida, in Costa Rica, to build a basketball/volleyball/soccer court.  The community of Tierra Prometida is a marginalized community that started as a squatter village 19 years ago.  Since then, roads and basic utilities have been developed, yet the kids had nowhere to play.  The community school had a small sidewalk where kids would play during recess.  Two kids in early 2007 had literally broken their arms playing and running into posts.  The headmaster of the school, the community leaders and a Peace Corps volunteer heard about our organization and applied for a court. 
        We came down, hired a local construction company, worked alongside them and built the simple court below out of concrete.  As a result of the court, the school has the first sports teams ever at the school (see pic below), a place to play during recess and the ability to rent out the court in the evenings to generate income for the school.  One of the most exciting benefits to the court is that, due to a Costa Rican law, the government now is required to pay for the school to hire a PE/Health teacher since they have a court.  Since we left, the teacher has been hired and the school has had its first PE class. 

Building bridges between cultures through sport- Indonesia 2007

          In August, 2007, we took a team of 11 volunteers from Southwest Washington and Oregon to Binong, Indonesia to build a basketball/volleyball/badminton court.  The community of Binong is a poor community made up of ethnic Indonesians who are predominately Muslim.  Neighboring this community is Lippo Karawaci, a wealthy community, made up of Chinese-Indonesians who are predominately Christian.  Hence, the differences in this part of Indonesia that sometimes lead to conflict are religious, ethnic and socio-economic.  Furthermore, the kids have no association with each other to help break down these walls.
          We were contacted by a school in Lippo Karawaci who started a sports league where the rich, Christian kids play basketball and soccer with the poorer Muslim kids in youth leagues.  They are using sports to build bridges between cultures by connecting kids.  As an extension of this league, Courts for Kids came and built the court for one of the schools whose kids participate in this league.  Thus, this court not only gives these kids a place to play, but also is part of a bigger movement to build peace and goodwill through sport.  Below are pictures of the before and after shot of the court.