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On World Refugee Day 2025 on 20 June, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is proud to mark the occasion by giving a voice to the parents of the refugee children involved in the Baseball5 project at the Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Kenya.
Here are some of the participants’ amazing stories:
1. Building Focus and Discipline – Andre Elocho’s Story
Alocho Shindano, mother to Andre Elocho, shared how Baseball5 has transformed the daily lives of youth in the community. “There’s no more idling,” she said proudly. “The children are disciplined, they stay active, and they support each other.” She added that Andre has become more focused on his studies and now demonstrates a strong sense of responsibility both at school and at home. Baseball5 has not just improved his athleticism, it has shaped his character.
2. A First Trip to Nairobi – A Life-Changing Experience for Daudi Yeremiah
Jeremia Daudi, father to Daudi Yeremiah, could not hide his joy. “Baseball5 gave my son his first opportunity to travel to Nairobi,” he said, referring to the February competitions. “It was a big moment for him – and for us.” Beyond the exposure, Daudi notes how the sport is helping his son excel in other areas, especially football, because of the quick reflexes and speed Baseball5 develops.
3. Saving a Child from School Dropout – Michael Mlondani’s Journey
Leone Mlondani was deeply concerned that his son, Michael, was on the brink of dropping out of school. That changed when Michael joined the Baseball5 team. “Now, he’s committed to learning and is back on track,” Leone shared. Baseball5 gave Michael purpose, structure, and the motivation to pursue education again.
4. Bringing a Girl Back Home – Esther Kizenga’s New Path
Kizenga Antaunne, mother to Esther Kizenga, recalls a time when her daughter would idle around the community, exposing her to potential risks. “She rarely stayed home,” Kizenga admitted. “But since joining Baseball5, she comes home straight after training. She’s more responsible and safer.” The sport gave Esther a sense of belonging and direction.
5. From Risk to Responsibility – Sadi Lusambya Finds Positive Influence
Lusambya Ngoma, father to Sadi Lusambya, expressed his gratitude for the changes he has witnessed. “My son was in bad company, and I feared he was being lured into drug and substance abuse,” he said. “Now, Baseball5 has surrounded him with disciplined peers and coaches. He has good friends who encourage him to make better choices.”
The Kakuma Refugee Camp project was started in August 2024 – in collaboration with African Higher Education in Emergencies Network (AHEEN) and with the support of Olympic Solidarity – to provide weekly Baseball5 trainings and strengthened education to 60 refugees children boys and girls, 30 in Kakuma and 30 in Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement coached by a Kenyan certified Baseball5 coach and secondary professor, Denis Mitei, and two assistant refugee coaches, one female and one male Susan Nadai and Issa Rhamadhani.
Since the beginning of 2025, the players have been regularly assessed on their overall performance, including batting, speed, fielding, throwing accuracy, game awareness, and defensive reactions. In Kalobeyei, six players (three boys and three girls), and in Kakuma, seven players (four boys and three girls), were selected to participate in the Kenya national competition held on 1-2 February at Multimedia University in Kajiado County.
Also in February, a new English proficiency assessment was conducted, and the academic support programme was implemented.
Two friendly tournaments were held in March and April at Kalobeyei Stadium to promote teamwork, discipline, cross-community interaction, and ongoing player development while regular check-ins with the athletes’ school head teachers and their parents/caregivers have allowed for monitoring of academic performance and relaying of positive feedback and strong support.
The WBSC Legacy Club is equally fully committed to its Baseball5 Azraq Refugee Team. A project that started in January 2023, in Jordan with 23 refugee children coached by Amjad Alatoom and assisted by female refugee Reem Hadroos.
The Azraq Refugee team is now composed of 110 athletes including an elite team that has the goal to compete at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
Since the beginning of 2025, the team has participated in two tournaments, the Kingdom’s Ramadan Tournament, organised by the Jordan Baseball Softball Federation and the Hope & Dreams Festival.
In May, Head Coach Amjad Alatoom organised a game officials’ clinic for the team’s athletes, some of whom have since acted as referees in Baseball5 competitive matches for local villages teams.
In June, Reem Hadroos, the first Azraq Refugee Camp resident licensed by the WBSC as a Baseball5 coach and game official, became a full-time paid assistant to head coach Amjad Alatoom.
Trainings sessions have continued to promote harmony and social cohesion with the aim of equipping trainees with proficient Baseball5 skills while reinforcing values such as cooperation, team spirit, positive energy, responsibility and respect for time.
Clean sport has also been promoted by the WBSC. Using the Arabic youth athletes downloadable resources from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Education and Learning Platform (ADEL), the athletes have been briefed on anti-doping testing procedures, the list of prohibited substances (Prohibited List), supplements, and the importance of speaking up in challenging situations.
From 18–21 June, the Azraq elite team is participating in an external training camp that includes tournaments with the Jordanian U-18 Baseball5 National Team, as well as a World Refugee Day celebration featuring discussions and Baseball5 skills demonstrations.
The number of dedicated, artificial-turf fields for Baseball5 at the Azraq Refugee Camp has also increased to five, helping to support the impressive growth of the Azraq Refugee team members.
Baseball5 has proven to be a key vehicle in helping the WBSC positively impact the lives of refugees, promoting integration and inclusion. Accessibility is one of the key reasons behind the creation of Baseball5, which only requires a ball to play and is a youth-focused, mixed-gender, inclusive game that anyone can #playeverywhere. Baseball5 follows UNHCR Sport for Protection approach contributing to child protection, youth empowerment and sport for development and peace.
“These efforts are about building communities, fostering inclusion, and positively impacting the lives of refugees through sport,” commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “As we move forward, our commitment remains steadfast – to ensure that everyone, no matter where they come from, has the chance to engage, participate and thrive through our sport.”
World Refugee Day was first established on 20 June 2001 by the United Nations, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and is organised celebrate and honour refugees from around the world.
“This year’s theme, Solidarity with Refugees, urges us to move beyond words and take meaningful steps to support those forced to flee,” states the United Nations website. “Refugees seek not charity, but opportunity: a chance to rebuild their lives, contribute to their communities, and live with dignity.”
To put it into Secretary-General Antonio Guterres words, “Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is.”
The WBSC Legacy Club Annual Report 2023 and 2024 are available on the WBSC Legacy Club webpage.
