Save the dreams of Ugandan students

Hello,

We are the Mbale Secondary Taekwondo Team. We would like to introduce ourselves. We are 16 students: Wilson, Moses, Augustin, Joshua, Daniel, Faruka, Emmanuel, Deborah, Levi, Constant, Calvin, Peter, Scalen, Calix, Samuel, and Aron. All of us are enthusiastic about becoming Taekwondo athletes. However, we cannot live out our dreams because we cannot afford to train, let alone participate in the selection contest for the Uganda National Taekwondo Squad in April and Embassy Taekwondo Championship in June this year.

The two competitions mentioned above are the two biggest and most well-known competitions we can partake in Uganda and it is crucial to take part if one wants to become a professional Taekwondo athlete in Uganda.

We have been training Taekwondo for the past 3 years.

However, we lack financial means, so much to the point that some of us cannot afford to pay our school fees and, as a result, cannot come to train.

Despite these hardships, we showed quick progression and we tied with the National Ugandan team in a practice match in March 2018.

Our only conclusion to the reason that we could improve so quickly is that we love Taekwondo and we are willing to go further; we want to experience tournaments and other competitions, not only in Uganda but worldwide.

If our financial circumstances are improved we are sure that we will become great athletes in the future.

The upcoming tournaments and the estimate for the fees (including food, accommodation, and travel) are as follows:

1. Uganda National Taekwondo Squad (April 2018) - $700

2. Embassy Taekwondo Championship (June or July 2018. Date TBC) -$700

3. Performance 3-4 times (Date TBC) - $700 each time

4. Competition in East Africa estimates – plane ticket: $1200, accommodation: $600, food: $600

5. Competition in all of Africa (date and location TBC) - Estimate around $3600

Please look at the people who have grown up from humble backgrounds – from our neighbors, or your family members, to shiny superstars. They also needed some kind of love and support. Without it, it would have been impossible to reach where they are now.

You can change our situation and give us a brighter future.

With your support you can change the life of every single one of us; perhaps from a person without hope to a world Taekwondo champion.

That we received the invitation from the biggest taekwondo competition in East Africa means a lot to us; this could mean the beginning of our career and future beyond high school life. Please help us live the life we have been dreaming of.

This is a poem for all the children all over the world.

As though the sweetest dew falls to the whole world

Our heart embraced by blissful tenderness

The very moment that your eyes see the dream of children

Breaking down the boundary between you and me

We become one and it illuminates the world.

The tranquil delight that we have then!

Nothing can replace it!

Your dream becomes my dream

Ultimately, when our dream is the same,

Children of the entire world rise by ones and twos

And walk the way of light