Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League is Hitting a Homerun with Children

BASEBALL IN KENYA IS LIKE BASEBALL IN AMERICA - IT JUST GOES TOGETHER!!

Baseball Africa! Baseball Kenya! Baseball Africa! Baseball Kenya! These are the cheers and recognition youth now shout out with joy with the arrival and development of the first Little League program ever created in this part of Africa. Traveling as executive director of Dreamweaver International, a Northbrook based non-profit, Dr. Warren Bruhl has been working diligently to bring sports to under served children around the world and domestically. Dr. Bruhl first began bringing baseball and other sports items to Kenya as part of Dreamweaver’s Gear for Goals project in 2012. Dr. Bruhl, along with other board members and supporters of Gear for Goals, had noticed in most of the world where children live on less than $1.25/day there are virtually no sports programs.

Moreover, what they further recognized where no sports existed, there was no hope. As well, they discovered often the arts are also ignored. There is no music, no artistic outlet for children to develop their passions and dreams. Without sports, there was no way for children to develop teamwork, leadership skills, and conflict resolution.

So in 2012, Dr. Bruhl began to bring the children and the teachers in Kenya baseball equipment. At first, it was awkward for the children to even say the word baseball, let alone learn how to play it. But over the past two years and with diligence and practice, they now have spawned the Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League in the shadows of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. Now everyday, children gather with teachers and coaches and practice for an opportunity to one day play for a championship in Williamsport, PA, the home of Little League baseball and the site for the annual Little League World Series.

On the most recent trip to work with the players, Bruhl and other volunteers worked with the players and also gave them a gift of a lifetime for many. Players from the local schools who are on the teams in the area were provided with transportation to a local college (Kimana School of Leadership and Professional Studies) to watch a replay of the 2012 LLWS game Uganda vs. Mexico. For the players of the Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League, this was the first time they’d even seen a televised game of baseball and what a treat it was for them. Many said they were so excited, they could not even sleep the night before.

The Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League has scheduled their first tournament to take place on February 28th and are continuing to work on bringing equipment to the children and field development. Volunteers and donors in the States are needed to help with the program. To learn more contact Dr. Warren Bruhl at dr.bruhl@dreamweaver911.org