Soccer Donations

In April of 2007, Gabriel Constans (former SCCYSL Board Member), Audrey Blumeneau and their son Shona went to Rwanda to work in an orphanage in the capital city of Kigali.  They brought with them the maximum number of suitcases (and weight) allowable by the airlines filled with donated soccer shirts, shorts, socks, shoes, shingaurds, balls and pumps.

We presented these suitcases to the children of El Shaddai orphanage.  There are about 400 children who are surviviors of the Genocide of 1994.  Many of the older children saw their parents, sisters, brothers macheted to death.  They have lived on the streets of Kigali since that time.  A man named Sylvestre, a soccer enthusiast himself, set up this orphanage to shelter and feed these street children.  Upon opening our suitcases, it was like Christmas came early.  We have never seen such happiness with such a simple gift. 

In a recent email we heard that they are starting to play other teams not just in Kigali but in outlying cities and some people feel that they may be able to qualify for national and international competitions!

These guys are looking like professionals already!

These kids have all seen and experienced inconceivable events in their short lives.
All they needed was that gift to make them feel special, worthy and have a sense that someone cared about them and their future. 

We want to thank you for helping make that happen!  We hope to continue to spread the joy of the game.

Thanks to Play it Again Sports for donating pumps!