Footballs

Last Updated on Monday, 15 February 2010 03:35 Written by Steve Monday, 15 February 2010 03:34

My brother-in-law Pete just stopped by with 3 soccer balls for me to take to Rwanda! I hope to run across a couple football games and if the kids don’t have a real ball I’ll pass these on to them. Pete couldn’t resist the replica balls from the first world cup in Africa! Nice touch that I’m sure the kids will notice. He also provided a pump with extra needles for each ball. We’re thinking sustainability and maintenance, important concepts for even the smallest project…

Thanks Pete! Very thoughtful and there is nothing like the gift of play. I’ll try to get some pics and video of the balls in action once they get on the feet of kids who can use them!

Preparations for Rwanda

Last Updated on Monday, 15 February 2010 02:14 Written by Steve Monday, 15 February 2010 02:14

I’m just about complete with my preparations for my trip to Rwanda. It’s been a whirlwind 6 weeks from when I first was asked to go. My philosophy is to prepare myself for amazing opportunities and then make the most of them when they present themselves. In preparation for this amazing trip, I’ve read these amazing books:

We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families Gourevich’s book on the 1994 genocide goes so far beyond just a history, it almost feels timeless. He uses the genocide to allow us to consider what it means to be human. Everyone should read this book…

As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda Larson takes a look at what it means to try to carry on after the genocide. She presents dozens of real-life tales of reconciliation that are heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.

Mountains beyond Mountains Tracy Kidder tells the tale of Paul Farmer and his work in Haiti. President Kagame asked Farmer to Rwanda to help remake the country’s health care system. Farmer’s melding of liberation theology and public health is nothing short of brilliance.

And David Brancaccio has an amazing segment on Farmer’s work in Rwanda. This half-hour is amazing–take the time to watch it to see just how attainable conquering AIDS in Africa really is.