Developing Basketball in Kenya
Donation protected
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Hello, my name is Nancy Grew and I am an elementary school teacher teaching in Kingston, Ontario. I have been working to develop basketball in the northwest corner of Kenya. Specifically, I am reaching out to you for financial donations such that we can build proper basketball courts on which rural teams can play. I am hoping that you might be interested in supporting this great African basketball story. The short promotional video above outlines some of the basic events to this point. It is quite exciting and the story continues to develop even as I write. You can also find out more information, including updates by visiting my blog:
bballstorygrew.blogspot.ca
Here is a bit of a background about what I am trying to do in the Siaya District of the Nyanza Province of Kenya. I have been working with a number of small rural schools near Ramula and they are located about 44 km from Kisumu, the closest major centre. I visited Kenya and Uganda in February of 2016. I was traveling with a local charitable organization called CanAssist. They provide infrastructure support by providing funds to build schools, drill wells, provide water catchment facilities, purchase fuel efficient wood burning stoves and the like. Each donation benefits the entire community and we are making positive change happen. The work is done locally, which benefits the local economy and provides much needed jobs for local workers.
Before I left for the trip I did a fundraiser at my school and using that money I bought school supplies and basketballs for three small schools, including St. Catherine’s School near Ramula. At St. Catherine’s the sport has taken life and the grade 5/6 boys' team has started to compete through the passion and leadership of their teacher and coach, Mr. Donald Mark. What is astonishing, is that even though the boys had never played the game before, they have now qualified to play in a Championship match in Yala, Kenya on January 14th. I approached my school Board and requested leave to attend. They approved it! I am going to represent Truedell Public School, ETFO Limestone Local, the LDSB, Kingston Impact, Lakers Basketball Club and others who have helped to make this happen. This is Kingston's team. The hard working students trained with a ball purchased by Truedell. They wear Kingston Impact uniforms donated by our local club team and shoes and socks provided by ETFO Limestone Local. For many of the boys on the team, this is the first pair of shoes that they have worn. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I believe this is true. These boys are learning invaluable lessons which will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Other good news is that I have persuaded the school that girls can play too and they are developing a girls team for next year. ETFO has committed to providing socks and footwear for the girls should they follow through. I know they will.
As good as this story is, the fact remains that in order for the sport to thrive the schools need proper courts. Recently the St. Catherine’s team walked 50 km to train on a paved court. At their school they play on hard-packed dirt using a backboard and net attached to a wooden pole. I would like to start by building paved courts in three or four schools, such that local teams can play competitively on a regular basis. I would also like to see this program expanded to the whole region, but I am reminded by my African friends to go pole, pole (swahili for slowly, slowly)!
I have established contacts on the ground and these are people that CanAssist has dealt with for many years. They are hard working people who take great pride in their schools and they simply want their children to have the best possible opportunities. I know that you agree with me that basketball is a great sport. It is fun and relatively inexpensive to play. It teaches invaluable life lessons and helps athletes to have hope and to be fit and to thrive.
I am hoping that enough funds will be generated before I leave for Kenya on January 10th, 2017, that I might be able to announce funding for the construction of the first court when I am there. Can you imagine the excitement and gratitude that the team and their families will experience to know that "Kingston's Team" has Kingston supporteres. Together we are stronger and together we can make this happen.
This is a true feel good story at a time when we all need one. I hope you agree. Thank you for your time and interest. If you can help to develop basketball in this region your support would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Nancy Grew
Hello, my name is Nancy Grew and I am an elementary school teacher teaching in Kingston, Ontario. I have been working to develop basketball in the northwest corner of Kenya. Specifically, I am reaching out to you for financial donations such that we can build proper basketball courts on which rural teams can play. I am hoping that you might be interested in supporting this great African basketball story. The short promotional video above outlines some of the basic events to this point. It is quite exciting and the story continues to develop even as I write. You can also find out more information, including updates by visiting my blog:
bballstorygrew.blogspot.ca
Here is a bit of a background about what I am trying to do in the Siaya District of the Nyanza Province of Kenya. I have been working with a number of small rural schools near Ramula and they are located about 44 km from Kisumu, the closest major centre. I visited Kenya and Uganda in February of 2016. I was traveling with a local charitable organization called CanAssist. They provide infrastructure support by providing funds to build schools, drill wells, provide water catchment facilities, purchase fuel efficient wood burning stoves and the like. Each donation benefits the entire community and we are making positive change happen. The work is done locally, which benefits the local economy and provides much needed jobs for local workers.
Before I left for the trip I did a fundraiser at my school and using that money I bought school supplies and basketballs for three small schools, including St. Catherine’s School near Ramula. At St. Catherine’s the sport has taken life and the grade 5/6 boys' team has started to compete through the passion and leadership of their teacher and coach, Mr. Donald Mark. What is astonishing, is that even though the boys had never played the game before, they have now qualified to play in a Championship match in Yala, Kenya on January 14th. I approached my school Board and requested leave to attend. They approved it! I am going to represent Truedell Public School, ETFO Limestone Local, the LDSB, Kingston Impact, Lakers Basketball Club and others who have helped to make this happen. This is Kingston's team. The hard working students trained with a ball purchased by Truedell. They wear Kingston Impact uniforms donated by our local club team and shoes and socks provided by ETFO Limestone Local. For many of the boys on the team, this is the first pair of shoes that they have worn. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I believe this is true. These boys are learning invaluable lessons which will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Other good news is that I have persuaded the school that girls can play too and they are developing a girls team for next year. ETFO has committed to providing socks and footwear for the girls should they follow through. I know they will.
As good as this story is, the fact remains that in order for the sport to thrive the schools need proper courts. Recently the St. Catherine’s team walked 50 km to train on a paved court. At their school they play on hard-packed dirt using a backboard and net attached to a wooden pole. I would like to start by building paved courts in three or four schools, such that local teams can play competitively on a regular basis. I would also like to see this program expanded to the whole region, but I am reminded by my African friends to go pole, pole (swahili for slowly, slowly)!
I have established contacts on the ground and these are people that CanAssist has dealt with for many years. They are hard working people who take great pride in their schools and they simply want their children to have the best possible opportunities. I know that you agree with me that basketball is a great sport. It is fun and relatively inexpensive to play. It teaches invaluable life lessons and helps athletes to have hope and to be fit and to thrive.
I am hoping that enough funds will be generated before I leave for Kenya on January 10th, 2017, that I might be able to announce funding for the construction of the first court when I am there. Can you imagine the excitement and gratitude that the team and their families will experience to know that "Kingston's Team" has Kingston supporteres. Together we are stronger and together we can make this happen.
This is a true feel good story at a time when we all need one. I hope you agree. Thank you for your time and interest. If you can help to develop basketball in this region your support would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Nancy Grew
Organizer
Nancy Grew
Organizer
Kingston, ON