More Than Baseball: Our August Trip
More Than Baseball: Our August Journey Through Kenya
200+ young athletes. Seven schools. Hundreds of pounds of donated equipment.
Thousands of miles traveled. And a summer that changed the way we see the world.
There are some trips you take that become wonderful memories. You come home with photographs, stories, and perhaps a few souvenirs.
And then there are trips that become part of who you are.
Our August 2026 journey to Kenya was one of those trips. When we started Field to Field, our goal was pretty simple. We wanted to collect baseball equipment that kids in our community had outgrown or no longer needed and get it into the hands of young athletes in Kenya who would put it to good use. We believed that baseball could connect kids growing up in Snohomish County, Washington, with kids growing up halfway around the world.
We hoped to make a difference. What we didn't fully understand was just how much these kids, coaches, and communities would change us in return.
This August, we watched our little idea grow into something far bigger than we ever imagined. We witnessed incredible athletic talent, determination, generosity, and joy. We watched friendships form between people who had never met and came from completely different backgrounds. We saw how something as simple as a baseball glove could open doors to conversations, opportunities, and relationships that might never have existed otherwise.
And perhaps most importantly, we came home with a much clearer understanding of what Field to Field can become.
From Snohomish County to Kenya, One Glove at a Time
Long before we boarded the plane, this journey had already begun.
It started with our Great Big Glove Drive and a simple request to our local baseball community: If you have equipment your kids no longer use, would you consider sharing it with a child who needs it?
What happened next was incredible.
Families began donating gloves that had been sitting in garages and closets. Baseball players shared bats, cleats, uniforms, and gear. Local teams, coaches, businesses, and organizations stepped forward to help.
Some donations were brand new. Others had already seen years of baseball games, practices, and tournaments.
And we loved that.
There's something meaningful about a glove that has already been part of someone's baseball story finding its way into the hands of another child who gets to continue that story.
With support from organizations including Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, the Seattle Mariners, Baseballism, Marucci Sports, Columbia Basin Community College, Viper Bats, and so many generous baseball families, we collected more than 500 pounds of equipment for young athletes in Kenya. The Seattle Mariners even donated 100 official Major League Baseballs to brin
g along.
Think about that for a moment.
Baseballs that began their journey at T-Mobile Park in Seattle were about to find their way onto baseball fields in Kenya.
It was Field to Field in the most literal sense.
But getting all that equipment across the world was only the beginning.
Arriving in Kenya: Where Baseball Already Has a Home
One of the things we want people to understand about our project is that we didn't travel to Kenya to introduce baseball.
Baseball is already there.
There are passionate young athletes, incredibly dedicated coaches, established teams, and communities working hard to grow the game.
What is missing in many places isn't interest or talent.
It's access.
Access to equipment. Access to safe and consistent places to practice. Access to transportation and tournaments. Access to the resources that many young American athletes take for granted.
And those are things we believe we can help change.
Through our partnership with the Kongoni Baseball Network and the incredible people behind it, we were welcomed into a baseball community that immediately felt like family.
We reunited with friends, met new players and coaches, and began distributing equipment that had traveled thousands of miles to reach them.
Watching the gear find its way into the hands of young athletes was something we'll never forget.
A glove isn't just a glove when you've been sharing one with teammates.
A baseball isn't just a baseball when every ball has to last as long as possible.
A uniform isn't just a uniform when putting it on makes you feel like you truly belong to a team.
These are things that can seem so ordinary to us at home.
In Kenya, we saw just how extraordinary they could be.
The Kids Are the Reason We Do This
If there is one thing that stands out from our time in Kenya, it's the kids.
Their energy. Their curiosity. Their determination. Their laughter.
And their absolute, undeniable love of baseball.
There were moments when the fields were dusty, the heat was exhausting, and we couldn't help but think about how different the conditions were from the manicured diamonds where our own kids had grown up playing.
But the moment a baseball was thrown or a bat made contact with a ball, none of those differences seemed to matter.
The excitement was exactly the same.
The kids celebrated great plays, encouraged their teammates, competed fiercely, and found joy in every opportunity to be on the field.
And they were good.
Really good.
It was impossible not to notice the raw athletic talent and how much these young
players had accomplished with limited resources.
We kept finding ourselves wondering what they might be able to do with consistent access to equipment, coaching opportunities, and fields designed for the game.
How many young athletes could develop their skills further?
How many more girls might join a team?
How many children who have never had the opportunity to play might discover a sport they love?
We don't know all those answers yet.
But we came home determined to help find out.
The Coaches Who Make It All Possible
Behind every one of these young athletes is someone who believes in them.
And during our trip, we were reminded that the real heroes of this story are the Kenyan coaches, mentors, and community leaders who have been showing up for these kids long before Field to Field ever existed.
People like Coach Nelson Kassim.
Nelson is one of those rare people who seems to give everything he has to the people around him. His love for baseball is matched only by his love for the children he coaches.
He teaches, encourages, organizes, and solves problems. He finds ways to make things work even when the resources aren't there.
And he does it all with an incredible amount of kindness and patience.
We also spent time with other remarkable members of the Kongoni baseball community, including Faith, Khamis, and Oscar.
Each brings something different to the project. Each has a unique story, special talents, and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people.
Oscar, in particular, has become an important part of our growing Field to Field family. A talented player, coach, and storyteller, he brings so much energy and enthusiasm to everything he does. We're excited for him to help share more of the stories, photographs, and everyday moments that make this community so special.
These relationships are the foundation of Field to Field.
Because no matter how much equipment we collect or how much funding we raise, the people doing this work every day are the ones who will make lasting change possible.
We aren't here to replace what they've built.
We're here to support it.
Fourteen Hours for the Chance to Play
Of all the experiences we had in Kenya, the baseball tournament at the Field of Dreams near Nairobi was one of the most unforgettable.
For many young athletes in the United States, playing in a tournament means loading the car, packing snacks and equipment bags, and perhaps spending a weekend at a hotel.
For some of the Kenyan teams we encountered, the journey looked very different.
Players traveled as long as 14 hours by public transportation just to have the opportunity to compete.
Fourteen hours.
Some slept in shared tents near the baseball field.
Meals could be as simple as white bread and tea.
Equipment was shared between players and teams, and everyone found ways to make do with whatever was available.
And still, the excitement was overwhelming.
These kids weren't complaining about the accommodations or wishing they were somewhere else.
They were there to play baseball.
They were there to represent their teams, compete against other young athletes, and be part of something they loved.
We watched these players take the field with a level of pride and determination that was impossible not to admire.
And the Kongoni All-Stars gave us plenty to cheer about, delivering an incredible performance at the tournament.
But as proud as we were of their success, what stayed with us wasn't the final score.
It was the sacrifices these players and coaches made simply to be there.
We couldn't stop thinking about all the things we take for granted in youth sports back home.
The overflowing equipment bags. The extra practice balls. The convenient transportation. The maintained fields. The tournament fees that are often paid without a second thought.
None of those things automatically make a child a better player.
But they make opportunities possible.
And every child deserves those opportunities.
Watching the Girls Take the Field
Another one of the most meaningful parts of our trip was seeing girls embrace baseball.
Through schools including St. Anne's Musoli Girls, we had the opportunity to see young female athletes take the field, compete, and begin building their own place in the sport.
Watching girls step into the batter's box, take their positions, and discover what they're capable of was incredibly powerful.
There is something special about seeing a young athlete realize that a sport belongs to them, too.
That they deserve to be there.
That their efforts, skills, and accomplishments matter.
We want to see more of that.
More girls with gloves.
More opportunities to practice.
More female teams participating in tournaments.
More young women who see baseball not just as something they can try, but as something they can genuinely become part of.
One of our hopes for Field to Field is that girls' baseball continues to grow alongside the boys' programs, with access to the same equipment, coaching, and competitive opportunities.
Because when we talk about growing the game, we mean growing it for everyone.
Lessons That Had Nothing to Do With Baseball
As a parent, one of the reasons this project means so much to me is the opportunity it has given our own children.
I grew up spending part of my childhood near Mombasa, and returning to Kenya with my kids has always been deeply personal.
There's something difficult to put into words about bringing your children to a place that holds so much of your own history and watching them form relationships and memories of their own.
I wanted them to see more of the world.
To recognize that their experiences aren't everyone's experiences.
To learn that meaningful relationships can grow between people who come from entirely different places.
And I wanted them to understand that having the opportunity to help someone doesn't automatically mean you have more to offer than they do.
Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is listen.
And learn.
Our kids have been part of collecting equipment, sharing the story of Field to Field, and connecting with young Kenyan baseball players.
But during this trip, they received something that couldn't have been packed into a suitcase.
They saw what dedication looks like when playing a sport requires tremendous sacrifice.
They learned that friendship doesn't depend on having the same possessions, living in the same country, or speaking the same way.
They watched people give generously even when they didn't have much themselves.
And they experienced the kind of joy that comes from sharing something you love with someone else.
I hope those lessons stay with them long after they've forgotten the scores of the games.
I know they'll stay with me.
More Than 200 Young Players. Seven Schools. One Shared Love of the Game.
By the end of our summer programming, Field to Field had helped reach more than 200 young athletes across seven schools in Kenya.
We had delivered more than 500 pounds of donated baseball gear, supported opportunities for boys and girls to play, strengthened friendships with Kenyan coaches and community leaders, and witnessed firsthand what greater access to baseball could mean.
Those numbers make us proud.
Especially when we think about how this all started.
A couple of boys collecting baseball gloves. A community willing to help. A shared belief that something useful sitting in a garage in Washington could make a real difference to someone in Kenya.
But the numbers only tell a small part of the story.
They don't capture the excitement of a young player receiving a glove.
They don't show the generosity of a coach who shares whatever equipment is available.
They don't explain what it feels like to watch kids who traveled half a day to reach a tournament finally take the field.
They don't measure friendships.
And they certainly can't measure how much this experience has meant to our family.
Every one of those 200 players has a story.
And we want to keep telling them.
Coming Home With Bigger Dreams
Before this trip, we were focused on getting as much equipment as possible into Kenya.
We still believe that work is incredibly important, and we plan to continue it.
But after spending time on the fields, talking with coaches, watching tournaments, and understanding the challenges these young athletes face, one thing became very clear.
The next chapter of Field to Field needs to be about building opportunities that last.
We want to help create a permanent baseball field in Kenya's coastal communities.
A place where children can practice regularly.
Where boys' and girls' teams can compete.
Where coaches can host clinics and tournaments.
Where families can gather to watch their children play.
And where young athletes don't have to depend on access to temporary or makeshift spaces simply to enjoy the sport they love.
We're also developing Ujenzi Works, a workforce training initiative that connects practical skills with community development.
Our vision is to train and support young people in welding and construction-related skills while building the infrastructure needed for a community baseball field.
Backstops. Benches. Dugouts. Fencing. Bleachers.
The very structures that make a baseball field functional could become opportunities for young people to learn valuable skills and contribute something lasting to their communities.
We love the idea that the process of building a field can create opportunities just as meaningful as the baseball played on it.
And we want the people and communities in Kenya to be at the center of that process.
It's an ambitious dream.
But after everything we witnessed this summer, it doesn't feel impossible.
It feels necessary.
To Everyone Who Helped Make This Summer Possible
There are so many people who deserve to be part of this story.
To every family who donated a glove, bat, uniform, or pair of cleats: Thank you.
To the teams and coaches who organized collections and encouraged their players to give: Thank you.
To the Seattle Mariners, Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, Baseballism, Marucci Sports, Columbia Basin Community College, Viper Bats, and the organizations and businesses that believed in what we were trying to accomplish: Thank you.
To our friends, family, and supporters who shared our posts, encouraged our kids, contributed equipment, or helped us find new connections: Thank you.
And to our Kenyan partners, especially the Kongoni Baseball Network, Coach Nelson, Khamis, Faith, Oscar, and the many coaches and community members who welcomed us into their lives: We are so deeply grateful.
You have given us far more than you know.
Thank you for trusting us, teaching us, and allowing us to become a small part of something you have worked so hard to build.
This project belongs to all of us.
What's Next for Field to Field?
We're home from Kenya, but our work is just beginning.
The experiences we had this August have shaped what we want to accomplish next.
Our priorities are to continue getting much-needed equipment to young players, support existing Kenyan baseball teams and coaches, expand opportunities for girls, help more teams participate in tournaments, and begin making our dream of a permanent coastal baseball field a reality.
And we would love for you to be part of it.
Here's what your support can help make possible:
$50 provides a new baseball glove for a young athlete.
$100 helps cover student participation fees.
$1,000 can support tournament travel for two teams, one boys' team and one girls' team.
$25,000 is our fundraising target to help purchase land and supplies for a new community baseball field.
We're also looking for coaches, players, businesses, and community members who want to get more involved.
If you're a baseball coach or player who would love to join us on a future trip to Kenya, we'd love to hear from you.
If you represent a business or brand interested in sponsoring equipment, uniforms, tournament expenses, or the development of our field, there's a place for you in this project.
And if donating isn't possible right now, sharing our story or following our journey makes a difference, too.
You can connect with us through Ujenzi Foundation or follow along on Instagram.
To get involved directly, email us at clayton@ujenzifoundation.org.
The Best Part of This Story Is That It Isn't Finished
When I think back on August, there are so many moments that come to mind.
The baseballs and gloves finding new homes.
The dusty fields filled with laughter.
The incredible pride of players representing their schools and teams.
The girls stepping onto the field.
The tournament where kids who had traveled for hours finally got the chance to compete.
The friendships, the conversations, and the kindness we encountered everywhere along the way.
And I keep returning to the same thought.
We went to Kenya hoping to share something we love.
But the people we met shared something even greater with us.
They reminded us that generosity has nothing to do with how much you have. That opportunity can change the direction of a young person's life. That the people who show up every day, even when things are difficult, are often the ones making the greatest difference.
And that baseball, at its very best, has a remarkable ability to bring people together.
From a Little League field in Snohomish County to a baseball tournament outside Nairobi, the love of the game is the same.
Different countries.
Different backgrounds.
Different challenges.
But the same excitement when the ball meets the bat.
The same cheers from teammates.
The same feeling of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
We started Field to Field because we believed baseball could connect two communities.
This August, those communities became something more.
They became family.
And we cannot wait to see what we build together next.
Play the game. Share the game. Grow the game.
— The Ujenzi Foundation Field to Field Team
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