The Langley Little League team which competed in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in August is now part of what could be an even more important story.
A drive is underway involving Right to Play, a charity which promotes sports in underdeveloped areas of the world, to raise funds and send the Langley team off to Uganda to complete some unfinished business.
A Ugandan team qualified to go to the Little League World Series as well. It was the first-ever African team to do so. The team had been scheduled to play Langley in its first game, but visas for team members were denied by the U.S. State Department, apparently due to insufficient documentation.
Anyone familiar with Africa knows that many people don’t have full documentation, in countries that have been wracked by war, poverty and disease. Uganda has had all three. The U.S. government was firm — it wasn’t going to let the team into the country.
Ruth Hoffman of Vancouver, who has done microfinance work in East Africa, was immediately struck by the plight of this team, and decided to do something about it. She at first tried to get the Ugandan team to come to Canada, but then found out that a trip by the Canadians to Uganda would have many more benefits. The coach of the Ugandan team would like to showcase how kids there play baseball, and she got in touch with Right to Play, which immediately bought into the idea.
It was promoted by Sportsnet during the recent World Series, and filmmaker Jay Shapiro, who was already making a film about the Ugandan team, has made a five-minute video about the team for ESPN.
A total of $155,000 is needed to send the Langley team off to Uganda in January, with $75,000 of that needed by Dec. 31. Already, more than $40,000 has been raised.
In addition to travel expenses, the money will be used to provide baseball scholarships for the Ugandan team, funding for the Ugandan team to travel and development of baseball facilities there.
The Langley ball players are learning a great deal about the complexities of international relationships — and how sports has the ability to surpass national differences. This is a wonderful story.
Donations can be made to Right to Play at www.righttoplay.com.
