Help us build Kenya's field of dreams

Fueled by the passion of Kenya's baseball and softball community, we're a community-led effort building the first baseball and softball fields in Nairobi, Kenya; a field for dreams to come true.

Since 2021, we've successfully raised $25,000 to jump-start our project. As a result we've made incredible progress - we've built a basic field, supported thousands of young people to play baseball and softball and gained international attention.

We're now raising an additional $50,000 to support the improvement of the first field and the construction of a second field; in all the complex will be able to support Little League, softball, and Seniors' (18+) baseball player skills development and games for players across Kenya and East Africa.

As a result of incredible feedback and interest, we launched IfWeBuildIt.org to support building baseball fields across Africa. Funds raised are managed by IfWeBuildIt.org a 501(c)3 organization in the US, with an offical branch in Kenya.

Our Story

Decades after the introduction of baseball in Kenya, a group of Kenyan, American and Japanese players brokeground in 2021 on the "Nairobi Field of Dreams" just outside of Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The goal we set out to acheive: build the Nairobi region's first baseball field.

Thanks to the amazing donations we've received through this campaign, we've made a basic version of the field happen! Games are being played on a regular basis at the Nairobi Field of Dreams as we've established a basic, "Minimum Viable Field" as we build the field step-by-step and improve on the site as we go.

Our goal is to build fields that are up to basic municpal parks in the United States for Little League and at least US "High School" standards for baseball and softball. This means having strong backstops, good dugouts, good outfield fences and good quality outfield and infield surfaces. We still have a long way to go.

Ultimately, our goal is to complete a WBSC regulation field and complex to be able to host international competitions and World Cup qualifying matches.

Here's what we've accomplished so far since 2021:

2021

2022

2023

2024

Delta Airlines supported Diamond Dreams Youth Clinic in 2024

Nairobi Baseball Community Championship Series supported by MbeleFX

Background

In Kenya and other African countries, baseball and softball are growing with grassroots interest and support. In South Africa and Uganda, the construction of regulation baseball fields has led to the rapid development of players/teams and success in international competition.

While the game has already taken root in Kenya, official fields are difficult to develop because of a lack of experience, space, and funding. In all of Kenya, there is only one baseball field hundreds of miles from Nairobi - inaccessible for most of the country's baseball and softball players.

Fueled by the passion and demand from players across Kenya, we've set out to change this, putting Kenyan baseball on the map, and making Nairobi a destination for baseball players across Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world.

Our Goal: Create an epicenter for baseball and softball in East Africa

Your donation will support the construction of a two-field field complex (one for adult baseball and one for softball & little league) that can host local and international WBSC regulation games.

Our long-term vision is to build facilities, that can host hundreds of people and serve as a place to help baseball grow in Kenya and across the region.

The first field is already under construction at one of Kenya's leading Universities, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), home to one of the country's most successful baseball and softball programs. JKUAT is the primary partner in this effort and has set aside 10 acres to develop a baseball and softball complex that will serve as a hub for training, community engagement, and international competitions.

Dennis Katumo, a former JKUAT player at the location of the new field. Dennis is the captain of Kenya's national team and the captain of Kenya's World Cup-bound Baseball 5 team. He was recently elected WBSC Africa Athlete representative for baseball.

We've already raised $25,000 through individual donations that have gone towards clearing the land in preparation for the next phase of construction. Half of these funds have gone towards clearing the ground in preparation for the first phase of field construction. Now we're raising crowdfunding to support the construction of all project phases (you can learn all about the construction phases here ).

About Us

This fundraiser is hosted by Thom Wallace and Kevin Schreiber, the founders of If We Build It .org which is the 501(c)3 that has come from this effort. We're two Americans who call Kenya home. Over the last five years, we've been welcomed into the Kenyan sports community and created a baseball club called the Nairobi Buffaloes. The Buffaloes have traveled around the country playing baseball, hosting youth clinics, and discussing with players across the country the need for a field in Nairobi.

To raise additional awareness, support and funding for the project, we launch If We Build It.org to help grow international awareness and support for the project.

IfWeBuildIt.org is officially registered and established in New York State as a nonprofit corporation and we're recognzied as a 501(c)3, making your donations tax dedicutible.

Visit our website to learn more about the project: www.ifwebuildit.org

Follow us on our active Instagram account: IfWeBuildIt Instagram

Manager of the Nairobi Buffaloes and co-founder of If We Build It, Thom Wallace (left) speaks with a young player at a clinic held in Nov. 2021 at the future site of the new field.

Kevin Schreiber (right), co-founder of If We Build It and co-organizer of the Nairobi Buffaloes works with a young pitcher at an event held in 2019 at Kasirani Stadium, in Nairobi.