Following the Impact of the International Sport Connection: Luzari Prison Outreach with Coach Ssegonja

 

In the village of Luzari there is a prison.  It is built on the side of a rolling hill and it is along the banks of Lake Victoria, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.  Unlike in the United States, a family often follows their parents to the prison.  There is an entire community that has built up around the prison with schools and churches there to bring up the children.

There are hundreds of children waiting to be mentored in a way that will help them overcome their circumstances of being brought up in a prison.  The International Sport Connection inspired one of the local coaches to create a program of mentoring and teaching the local children soccer and life skills.  In 2010, Father Ssegonja Claudio Ssewava was trained by the International Sport Connection in Kampala, Uganda.  He learned ways he can impact the lives of children through sport using leadership, mentoring, and sport skills.  He learned first aid, management, and teaching.

In 2012, Coach Ssegonja invited the Assistant Director of the International Sport Connection, Lisa Berg, to his program in Luzari.  She stepped out onto the field and saw hundreds of kids ready to play.  ISC Coach Ssegonja used 4 assistant coaches to take the kids through his training session that was based on improving passing, receiving, and teamwork.  They faced many challenges since there were only 6 balls for over 150 children.  Most of the children don’t even speak a common language… other than the sport of soccer.  ISC Assistant Director Lisa Berg worked with small groups of players demonstrating new activities they can use to improve their skills and learn to work together.  The final part of the training session involved Coach Berg learning from the players about their experiences and speaking to the young athletes about opportunities there are in sports and how staying dedicated to something and getting an education can help them overcome circumstances they are faced with as they grow up.  Coach Berg finished her day in Luzari with the group of coaches, encouraging them to be patient, keep learning, and mentor these many young children.

“These communities of deep need are where the work of International Sport Connection comes in.  Using a language of sport to mentor these children will help them achieve a brighter future.”

-Coach Lisa Berg