Nov 24, 2011

Nine Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) volunteer coaches have just returned from a two week project in Kenya having coached and developed cricket with key AIDS awareness messages.

The members of the team came from all over the UK and had an age spread of 16-60.

The team in partnership with Cricket Kenya worked with players and coaches in order to improve cricket participation and to use the game as a vehicle to promote familiar HIV/AIDS awareness messages. The team spent their time based in the town of Nakuru and the city of Kisumu.

Amongst the many highlights were coaching in 24 schools and 4 orphanages and teaching over 3,000 children.

A key achievement was coaching more than 120 coaches to achieve an ICC coaching accreditation, ensuring that the coaching of cricket would be sustained in the months ahead.

The team showed great passion, enthusiasm and adaptability by delivering sessions non-stop for 12/14 days. The sheer joy of seeing the game develop in some of the poorest communities and schools as well as their enthusiasm and energy was something the team will never forget.

For more information on the Kenya trip please visit the blog at www.cwbblogs.com/kenya11 and the YouTube channel www.youtubecom/cwbkenya2011

CWB Kenya Country Manager and Head of Cricket Development at Essex County Cricket Club, Tracey Davies had this to say about the trip:

"the CWB Kenya trip was an amazing experience for us all with memories that will last a life time. We taught thousands of children and young people HIV/AIDS awareness messages. The fact that we could potentially make a real difference to their lives through these messages through cricket, as well as spending time with them was an amazing feeling.

Whilst the poverty, slums and orphanages was heart breaking, playing cricket, dancing, singing and chanting with these children was the most heart warming experience I have ever had in my entire life. The people we met in Kenya are truly incredible and an inspiration to us all. I cannot wait to go back again in the near future.

I must also thank Cricket Kenya for their genorisity in both hosting us and in the planning of an excellent itinerary"