A Different Type of Soccer Tournament

It seems like everywhere I turn right now I end up face to face with soccer because of the World Cup. The radio in my car and home, conversations with friends and family, and updates on twitter and facebook. Soccer fever is at its height around the world  and I cannot help but think of a tournament in Northern Uganda that was finishing up just before the World Cup began. 

The WASH (Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation) Soccer Tournament, which included 15 teams from communities in Northern Uganda, was a totally innovative way of approaching education, empowerment, and hope. When I first heard about the soccer tournament, I was not sure what to think and wondered if it would work. The soccer players were trained in basic WASH and tournament scores include an evaluation of village transformation in WASH including the presence of drying racks for dishes, latrines for using the bathroom, and tippy taps for washing hands. While I wondered how well this would work, good development is based on local innovation, and this is no exception.

In May I watched the quarter final and semi-final games for the WASH Soccer Tournament when I was in Uganda. As I sat on the sidelines watching and taking pictures, this is what I saw: excellent soccer, camaraderie, cheering fans, well matched teams, shoot-outs, and celebrations. In communities, I saw and heard of hygiene and sanitation practices adopted during the tournament and of how young men were becoming role models for boys. This was a different kind of soccer tournament - it brought WASH messaging that was truly adapted by the local population while also bringing transformation and hope. When I talk about the World Cup these days, I cannot help but be reminded of the WASH soccer tournament and the communities. A world apart, we are listening to, watching, and talking about the same games right now.