by Karen Osborn, Co-Founder of Kids Play International
Last year, my friend Tracy and I wanted to take a trip to Africa. At first, we simply wanted to explore another country, go on a safari, and enjoy a vacation as most people try to do with their average two weeks per year. What we didn’t realize is that the trip would turn into one of the most amazing experiences that would change the way we travel forever.
After switching around decisions on what country to go to, we landed on Malawi. This country, as one of the world’s poorest nations, has close to a million orphans due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and Malaria outbreaks. We signed up to work in an orphanage with children ages 0-18. When we found out the kids were requesting sports equipment, we were so excited. Both of us are athletes, so we asked if we could lead the kids in some sports clinics to teach them how to use the equipment we were donating.
We organized 144 kids into different teams and taught them how to play volleyball, softball, and track and field running events… none of which they had ever played before, as soccer is really the only sport they know. 
For the little ones, we taught them the sack races, duck-duck-goose, and red rover. The smiles on the kid’s faces warmed our hearts and we gained new pen pals for a lifetime. They loved the clinics and a new idea was born!
On our 8 hour layover in Nairobi, Kenya returning from the trip, Tracy and I brainstormed, and decided to form our own organization that we named Kids Play International. 
This non-profit organization provides sports-focused humanitarian trips for those travelers wanting to make an impact in the lives of the orphans in Africa. Our experiences with the kids had such an effect on us that we are so excited to share this opportunity with other travelers, and help give these kids more and more opportunities to just PLAY!
This June, we are taking our inaugural Kids Play trip with a great group of volunteers to the Mtendere Village Orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi to put on sports clinics for the beautiful kids there, as well as one other orphanage and a school. We invite anyone who has ever had that urge to travel with a different purpose, to join us on this great experience. We will also be starting up a pen-pal program for youth programs here, so that kids in the U.S. can connect with kids their age in this beautiful country across the globe. For more information on our organization or the June volunteer trip please go to KidsPlayInternational.com.
Karen Osborn is a sports talent agent with Sports Unlimited, providing sports models to various print and commercial projects including some of the fabulous models you see for Athleta. She was a 3-sport athlete in high school and college, and has continued her love for being active by enjoying a variety of sports such as competing in duathlons, hiking and playing on a co-ed softball team. Her business partner, Tracy Evans, is a 3-time Olympian in Freestyle Skiing/Aerials. She is currently a casting director for sports-related print and commercial projects and stays active by Mountain Biking, hiking, and performing with the Flying Ace All-stars in aerial shows at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah.
