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My name is Hannah Skinner and I am so excited for this opportunity I have to go to Uganda with 2009 Goals for Girls. I am actually not a student at Timpview, but am so excited and feel privileged to join their team for this project. I am Jackie Skinner’s (who is leading this trip) little sister, and am a senior at Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop, Arizona. I have played soccer since I was four years old, and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. I play both club and high school soccer, and just last year my high school team won the 3A Arizona State Championship. I play both defense and midfield. I don’t know where I would be without the game in my life. It has taught me discipline, teamwork, and confidence which I have applied to other aspects of my life. It is such a great way to release negative energy and to forget everything and just go out and have a blast.

In addition to soccer, I also play basketball and volleyball for my high school. I love snowboarding, anything outdoors, and spending time with my family and friends. I am the youngest of 5 children.

My sister Jackie has been going to Africa for about five years now, and every time she comes home she shows our family pictures and videos, and shares with us all of her incredible experiences. I have become very interested in Uganda and passionate in learning how I can help there. Through her videos and pictures, I feel like I already have a connection and love for the people there. I also feel like I have a fairly good understanding of the struggles young girls face that are my same age. I know that this experience is going to teach me a LOT! What I want to leave behind to my “sisters” in Uganda, is a message of hope. I want them to know I support and salute them, even though I am thousands of miles away. I want to share the game I love with them, and teach them all about what the game has taught me. I also want to help motivate these young girls to really become something in their lives, and not let their current situations stand in the way of their goals. Hence… every girl should have a goal.

This trip has become a dream/goal of mine, and I know that in order to make goals happen, you have to work hard. It is not easy coming up with $5,000 as a high school student that is involved in a lot of extracurricular things. I know great things take great sacrifice. I have done many things in order to raise the money. Some of my fundraising efforts have included bake sales at local grocery stores, handing out flyers around the community offering my services (babysitting, cleaning, snow-plowing, etc.), putting a donation jar at my mom’s gym, sending out fundraising letters to pretty much everyone I have ever known (THANK YOU!!), working extra hours at my mom’s gym, and asking for nothing but “Uganda” for Christmas and my birthday. It hasn’t been easy coming up with the money… but I know it is something I really want to do.

I can’t wait to meet the other 15 girls at Timpview, and feel honored to join them. I also can’t wait to meet everyone at The Kids League and the young girls we will be working with. It’s amazing how a game can unite people.

I am also soooo excited to go to Uganda with my sister Jackie. I grew up going to Jackie’s soccer games and tournaments, and loved cheering her on on the field. But, because of our age difference and living in different states, she missed out going to all my games and cheering me on. I can’t wait for this opportunity I will have to join her in Africa, doing something we are both passionate about: service and soccer. And now she will finally get the chance to watch me tear up the fields in Uganda;-)

I also want to thank the staff at the Kids League for making this trip possible. I can’t wait to meet you!