“It takes courage and heart to travel to a continent which the media portrays it to be a place of war, poverty, disease and corruption. To us down here, you are heroes and deserve this award.”
Those were the words of Coach George, the coach of the Ugandan baseball team and president of the Ugandan baseball and softball association.
He sent an email to Ruth Hoffman, who was the driving force behind the Pearl of Africa Series.
The series saw a team of Langley baseball players — aged 11 and 12 — who had represented Canada at the Little League World Series.
They were scheduled to play Uganda, but the African champions were denied entry into the United States due to some discrepancies with their visas and paperwork.
The Pearl of Africa Series raised enough money to send the Langley baseball team to Uganda for a week in January 2012 to not only play that game, but to help grow and establish the sport.
It was also made into a Sportsnet documentary, Fair Ball, which shared the story.
And after seeing the documentary, Alberta’s Janice Miller was so touched by its message, she decided to nominate Hoffman and the team for the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.
Governor General David Johnston was at the Township of Langley’s Fraser River Presentation Theatre on Monday afternoon to present the awards to Hoffman, thee players, coaches Dean Cantelon, Rick Burns, team co-ordinator Christine Ens, and umpires Chuck Dufton and Ed Levinson.
The award was created in 1995 to recognize the “unsung heroes of our country,” Johnston told the audience.
The Caring Canadian Award recognizes those who volunteer their time and efforts to help others build a smarter and more caring nation.
“As Governor General, I consider it a great privilege to recognize members of this team and those who supported them,” Johnston said.
“On behalf of all Canadians, thank you for your caring and kindness.”
Colby Ring, who spoke to the audience on behalf of his teammates, said it was a life-changing experience which changed the players forever.
“We went to Uganda … to play a game of baseball, little did we know that our experience was not only about baseball, but about life lessons and outlooks and especially making life-long friendships,” he said.
He said that they think daily about what they saw over that week and who they met.
“Uganda is a poor country but rich in many ways,” he said.
“Going there taught all of us how lucky we are, even if we sometimes forget.
“They have a special place in our hearts; they changed us forever (and) I hope they know how much they have given us.
“They have given us so much more than the bats, the balls, the shoes, the stuff that we gave them.
“We miss them and thank them.”
Hoffman said that the trip — which included former Major League Baseball players Gregg Zaun and Derrek Lee, as well as the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins — left a lasting impression.
“It showed thousands of kids in Uganda that others care,” Hoffman said.
“And when kids feel this kind of caring, they develop self-confidence and start believing in themselves.”
Struggling to keep her emotions in check at times, Hoffman shared an email from Samuel Gingo, who was on the Ugandan Little League team.
He wrote that meeting the Canadian kids had a profound impact on his life.
“I came to meet friends who loved me like a family and their own son,” he wrote.
Gingo said that everything happens for a reason and had the team gone to the U.S. for the World Series, who knows how life would have been different.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. We did not go to America because we had to meet you wonderful and generous people.”
Gingo was inspired to start his own non-profit and has successfully secured enough money to build a basketball court at his school.
At the conclusion of her address, Hoffman also announced the launch of the Pearl of Africa Series 2. It is partnering with Commonwealth Games Canada and the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
The goal is to raise $80,000 which will be used for a coaching program, videographer training, field development, provide money for Ugandan teams to travel to more competitions and to donate equipment.
Two Ugandan coaches will come to learn from the staff of the Vancouver Cannons beginning in September, while two girls’ coaches will spend eight months beginning in January with the White Rock South Surrey Softball Association.
Miller, who nominated the team for the award, was also at Monday’s presentation.
“I thought they were probably the best ambassadors we could have asked for,” she said. “I thought they deserved some recognition.”