8 October 2010
We firmly believe that the children we are raising have all the potential in the world; they can be whatever they set their minds to. Our job is to give them a loving, stable family environment, a great education and encourage them to pursue their God given gifts and talents.
From time to time we come across an incredible singer, an amazing dancer, a talented writer, a savvy entrepreneur, or a gifted sportsman. This week we uncovered such ability in the form of the brand new athletics team at Suubi Children's Village. Consisting of 15 students ranging in age from 18 to 20, this particular group is one talented team of untapped potential.
Athletics Organiser and Coach, Mitch Horrocks, said; "Although we might not have all the latest technology and equipment, I would suggest that we have more raw talent and skill in our small athletics team than the average high school anywhere in the world. Never before have I come across such skill and ability in a team this size and age. There is no doubt in my mind that these boys might very well be future Ugandan leaders in the field of sport. The talent we have in this small pool of boys is ten times the standard I am used to seeing and we don’t even have shoes for everybody.”
On a typical training day, for example, running across rocky terrain and steep and slippery sand paths each of the 15 students do a 3km run up, down and around Suubi Hill. Ending with a brutal half kilometre stretch uphill, the times produced are of a professional running standard. Some even run the course twice.
Special mention must go to Alex Atoo and David Ochola who knock up times at 9.10 and 9.30 respectively. Not to mention that these times were achieved with absolutely no previous training, shoes that may (or may not) quite fit and less than ideal, humid conditions.
You might think we’re bragging - and we kind of are. But can you really blame us? These kids are beating the odds, showing the world who they can be and what’s inside of them. We are their biggest fans.
