Heifer Spirit Giving Resources, Giving Self

Sam Bunn holds up a Rwandan soccer ball.

PhotoS BY JULIE WILSoN

educating, since many of the people he approached for help werent familiar with what happened in Rwanda in 1994. I had to do a lot of explaining because Rwandan children receive new soccer balls. a lot of people didnt even know what genocide was, he said. But once Sam explained, he got plenty of support. a lot of people of all ages helped, even the university (of Wyoming) gave me some soccer balls. People from my soccer team and my school helped. Sam collected 86 balls, which all had to be deflated for shipping. he By Austin Bailey, World Ark senior editor packed them up along with patch kits and air pumps and uilding connections between children in the Unit- got them to Wilson two days before her trip. ed States and post-genocide Rwanda isnt as hard I managed to squish about 50 balls into my largest as it might seem. Twelve-year-old Sam suitcase, Wilson said. The suitcase tipped Bunn figured out how to do it when he enthe scale just over the 50-pound limit, but the listed a heifer International board member airline agent chose to ignore the infraction to tote a suitcase full of soccer balls as gifts for when she heard what was inside. The balls Rwandan children. were distributed to delighted children in This cultural exchange came about beseveral villages where we visited, and at the cause heifer board member Julie Wilson Nyamata genocide memorial site, which was happens to be the aunt of Cormac Martinez, situated next to a large school whose lunch Sams teammate on his soccer team in lara- Preparing soccer balls break happily coincided with our visit to the mie, Wyo. When Sam heard about Wilsons for delivery. memorial. trip to Rwanda last May, he decided to enlist Wilson to When she returned to the States, Wilson brought back help him complete the service component of a six-week a Rwandan soccer ball for Sam. It was made out of leaves school project on genocide. Sam would collect the soccer and string. It was just crazy what they played with, Sam balls; Wilson would haul as many of them as she could fit said. in her suitcase. To read about Julie Wilsons visit to Rwanda with fellow Sam immediately found out he would have to do some heifer board members, go to www.heifer.org/worldark.

Soccer Match

Boy sends balls, goodwill to Rwanda

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Photo BY BUNN FAMILLY