Luther college student helps a soccer team--in Burkina Faso

Luther College student Paige Ofstedahl has helped a girls soccer teams--in the African village of Solenzo, Burkina Faso.

Ofstedahl and her family delivered two sets of soccer jerseys donated by Luther College to the village's girl's soccer team. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, so the soccer jerseys have made a big impact.

Ofstedahl's sister, Abby Ofstedahl, has been working in Burkina Faso since October of 2008 as a member of the Peace Corps, working in the Peace Corps' economic development program.

One of her projects involved starting a girls soccer program in Solenzo. The team is one of very few girls' soccer teams in the country of Burkina Faso.

Abby says participating in the soccer program has social and personal benefits for the village girls. "I didn't realize the significance of starting a female team until after our first meeting," said Abby. "I looked around at those girls and saw that they couldn't even make eye contact or speak up, even in our small group."

Even with the odds against them, the team soon began to grow, increasing from four girls at the first meeting to 15 to 20 girls attending each practice.

Once the girls started playing games, the next step in building the team's esteem was getting them some uniforms.

"My sister e-mailed asking for jerseys, and I knew Luther had recently bought new uniforms," said Paige Ofstedahl. "I talked to the Luther soccer coaches, and they were helpful and happy to donate the jerseys to the girls."

In December, Paige Ofstedahl and her family loaded their suitcases with the blue-and-white sets of soccer jerseys and made the long air and overland journey to the village of Solenzo.

"The girls here rarely have an opportunity to play due to the large lack of equipment and leadership," said Abby Ofstedahl. "Having this gift of Luther uniforms is huge for gaining respect from the entire community."

Paige and Abby Ofstedahl, both soccer players themselves, were able to spend some of the family's three-day visit coaching the girls.

"The team is definitely having an impact on the village, more so than the girls even realize," said Abby Ofstedahl. "This is one project I am incredibly proud of and I believe it has quite a bit of potential."

Burkina Faso's people struggle to make a living in a land of reoccurring droughts, poor soil, inadequate communications, a low literacy rate and an economy vulnerable to external shocks and fluctuations in world prices.

"Yet, the Burkinabe are extremely hospitable people," said Ofstedahl. "They are incredibly generous and gave our family gifts, including a beautiful woven blanket, and showed us traditional dancing and clothing."

A video about the project is available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlRa8w5GUVQ.

Burkina Faso is in Western Africa