Soccer—like Macalester—is international and multicultural. Recently, head men's soccer coach Ian Barker made a third connection—service—when he traveled to Africa to help train 180 Ugandan soccer coaches.

“We delivered information and equipment,” says Barker, “while we learned about the challenges they face and what works for them. The 180 coaches—men and women—came from all over Uganda, where they work with young people, including child soldiers, refugees from Sudan and the Congo, and others who are affected by AIDS.” Given the importance of soccer to children in Uganda, these coaches are in an ideal position to help children develop both soccer skills and life skills.

Earlier this spring, four Ugandan coaches visited Macalester, then for nine days in May, Barker and six others from the US traveled to Kampala as part of the International Sport Connection, which is funded by a grant from the US State Department's SportsUnited Division. There Barker spent a week training the coaches, who came to Old Kampala Secondary School for half-days of on-field coach training, paired with half-days in the classroom where they focused on teaching, training, managing, and mentoring youth. All of the coaches committed to passing along their new skills to at least seven other coaches in their home districts.

“It was like study abroad, when my guys go to Africa or Southeast Asia. We all shared meals and met at the school, which had no electricity.” Barker worked with one group of coaches who are deaf. Deafness is common in Uganda, says Barker, as a result of measles, polio, and quinine treatment for malaria.

Despite the modesty of the facilities, Barker would be happy to do it again. “The coaches were so positive and welcoming, and they were happy to share their knowledge and experiences with us. I was happy, too, that we were not just leaving money or a product, but helping the Ugandans to build sustainable soccer programs across the country.”

Read May 18, 2010 story on Ugandan web site, The New Vision