As Ice Cube rapped on the song "True to the Game" 28 years ago, "Give something back to the place where you made it from." Uganda's Amina Lukaaya, all of 31, is the living embodiment of that sentiment. Born in the Kampala neighborhood of Naguru, she now proudly flies Uganda's black, yellow and red flag in international competition. When she is not playing on Uganda's national table tennis team, the mother of one is running her own business and promoting education in her hometown of Naguru. Lukaaya studied economics and statistics at Kyambogo University. As education was integral to her success, she is working to help children stay in school and on the right track. Thus, in 2017 she created "Mimi’s Table," a program to promote table tennis in schools. She funds the program out of her own pocket. "I wanted to see how I could help my community, especially people who most times drop out of school to engage in crime," said Lukaaya "I know that for me sport is a big tool that can change lives." Lukaaya sees table tennis as not only a way to encourage children to stay in school, but a means to empower them moving forward. "I am using the academy to inspire these young ones on the need to inculcate some virtues like respect, honesty and fair play which are traits of a good sportsperson," she continued. "Going to school in Uganda might be expensive for these poor kids but sharpening their talents in table tennis can earn them the education they desire in life.” Citing the positive effect the program has already shown in the lives of at-risk children, Lukaaya seeks support from the Uganda Table Tennis Association to expand the program. "I believe table tennis is big tool as some of them look up to me," she says about children Naguru. "They sometimes doubt me whenever I tell them I grew up in the community and I am now playing for the national team, they were amazed. I made them realize that they can achieve their dreams in life with hard work and integrity.” Talk about staying true to the game.

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