Let me Play!

Let me be part of the team!

Give me an opportunity to fufil my dream!

I don't want much I just want a chance. MY chance!

Does the world have to let me down?

I am not asking for much,

jus a football will fulfil my heart,

that and a chance to play!

I have a t-shirt with those words on it and it was a conincidence that I was wearing that t-shirt when I went to visit wendy*, one of the girls who is in our team. I always feel down troten when I think about wendy because she is fighting a battle that is so hard in this unfair world. A battle that she did not start but found herself in its midst of a war that she has no control over yet she ends up the victim.

She was a child born out of wedlock , and in her culture she belongs to her father. A father she never met till his demise. Yet they have told her she must forget about her mother and go to her people. What people? She has no idea. This has led her to be thrown back and forth from one family to another no one wants to take responsibility because she belongs to her father a father she does not know.

Her mother remarried and began a new life. Because of culture her mother cannot share her new home or life with Wendy because she is a child out of wedlock and belongs elswhere. Could someone please tell me where elswhere is? coz I still haven't figured out where it is.

Wendy was sold to a man and was promised an education and later a job. She wasn't asked she was told. All this while Wendy just wanted to play, just to play football but of coarse no one cared. The man she was sold to abused her and later chased her away. She found her self in the city of Nairobi. She was welcomed by a gang of rapists. With nowhere to go no idea of where she was was,  Wendy wandered around looking for somewhere she could be safe, somewhere she could play without abuse and without rejection.

A lady took her in and promised to care for her. All she had to do was take care of the lady's 28 year old son. Wendy was releived. It would be ok form now on now that the lady had accepted her and taken her in. Her greatest joy she shared was when she met the girls in the Binti Team. They made her feel free, they loved her and they taught her many new things. Best of all she could play football as much as she liked.

Its cliche but I would say "All that glitters is not gold" . The lady's son insisted that she must give him sexual favours if she lives in his house and if she wishes to continue playing football. Her body for shelter and food. Wendy decided to fight this and reported him to the authority. Of course she was chased after a beating. Wendy is a fighter, she is fighting against child marririage and she is fighting against prostitution and she is fighting for the young girls who just want the opportunity to reach thier dreams.

As we speak, Wendy is at a shelter and still 3 months down the line I have not managed to find her a home. Her passion to play is stong despite all she has been through and all she wants is the opportunity. How will she play without a home, without food and without peace.

I am so bitter, hurt and heart broken when I think about it. Does Wendy have to be raped, beaten, abused and rejected in order for her to have a chance to have a somewhat " normal " life?

She is fighting.

Please let her play!!