The Universal Language of Sport = Joy and God's Grace

Pictured are Kkindu Primary Head Teacher, Joseph Kazibwe; John Kakande, Head of all PLACT activities in the village; Fr. Emmanuel, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Kkindu and Kristin Sheehan

On Wednesday in Uganda, our Notre Dame PLACT contingent traveled to the rural village of Kkindu outside the town of Masaka. Together with our students we visited two primary schools, Kkindu Primary and Hopeful School. We met with the head teachers and discussed their dreams for their sports programs and we played sports and games with the children. Our hearts swelled with love and our spirits soared with joy as we became a part of these childrens' lives – in the classroom as we taught lessons with their teachers and in the school yard as we kicked the soccer ball and sang circle songs. The big smiles that you see represent the true joy of connecting with God’s children through the glory of play.

Champions Throughout Uganda

On Wednesday in Uganda, Clark Power, Kevin Dugan and Kristin Sheehan gathered together with the leaders of the Catholic Church at St. Augustine Institute Catholic Secretariat. Together we explored the idea of sport as a means of educational development for all young people. We discovered that sport in Uganda is often reserved for only the most skilled athletes having the opportunity to compete. We presented the Play Like A Champion Today® philosophy of sport as valuable for all children in offering physical healthfulness and a mode of providing lessons that can lead to emotional, social and moral development. All children in Uganda can become Champions and “win” through playing sport. This message was heartily embraced by the group. Thus, we began discussions on how the Play Like A Champion Today® philosophy might best be disseminated to every sports tutor (Uganda’s name for physical education teachers or coaches) in every Catholic parish throughout the country. Ugandan church leaders expressed the desire to see the program in a two-fold capacity. First every sports tutor can be taught the Champion philosophy and ministerial approach to coaching sport and second, every child can be given the “champion” curriculum in understanding the powerful role that sport can play in their whole development. As members of one universal Catholic Church, Notre Dame’s Play Like A Champion Today® looks forward with excitement to partnering with the Church in Uganda to create sports programs that will deeply impact every young person in the county.