Some of the most meaningful parts of a journey are the ones you never planned for. On a visit to Rushaga, one of sixteen villages at the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, I arrived with suitcases packed full of baseballs, gloves, and gear, donated by my own community in California, much of it saved from landfills before it ever reached a child’s hands.

For most of the children at Rushaga Community School, it was the first time they had ever seen a baseball, let alone held one. In a place where resources are scarce, a simple game became something bigger: a moment of pure possibility. Laughter, curiosity, wide eyes. This was never just about play.