Amazing Cameroon

This is our third day of coaching at Yaounde, Cameroon. Today we had an early start getting up at 5.45. One of my main jobs in the morning is to wake Danny up. In the last few days, Danny has become good boy, so I had to call him once Da….n…..n…y!!!

Anyway we left for our first school at 7.15. On our way, I had a Yorkshire language lessons, would like to share that experience some other time. Every morning when we meet the Local coaches, they alway welcome us with great warmth and big smile. They all will be my life long friends (BROTHERS). Our first visit to to a government primary school called Ecole Departmental. It is nice to see lots of little girls and boys with big smile but little worldly amenities.

When you coach 100 kids in small place it is not easy, but it is fun, some time we forget in cricket. Second school was a secondary school, welcomed by security with metal detectors. Big school, we had about 210 teens to coach. I thought it would not be easy, but I could not have been more wrong! They are an absolute joy to coach and had a wonderful time. Even I couldn’t resist to show my Bollywood move with our Anthem ‘ABC CWB’. Lot of people don’t know this ‘Subhra'(chandra) exist. Last school was a bit further out of town, by now it is getting hot and humid. Everybody in the group was tired, but no, you don’t feel it, when you see those innocent smile and energy of Africa. It was a Fantastic session with this boys. It is a big school with 3500 students with very basic playing facilities, this is Africa!!!

Part of my day to coaching I collecting data for CWB. I do ask boys and girls few questions about HIV related and cricket.

The age group between 9yrs to 25yrs. I am really amazed to see their awareness about the dangers of AIDS and how to live life to avoid it. Maybe they don’t know about X BOX but they know not to use contaminated needles.

At the end we went to Orphanage. It was real pleasure to meet this little girls and boys. A boy of 12/13 yrs playing with a ball on his own. I can’t speak French and he can’t speak English. I joined him, he was very happy to play with me, I don’t know why I felt really connected to him. I don’t think he knows what cricket is.

Just copying me he learnt bowling, catching and throwing, without any verbal communication. I was really amazed. Clive, Laura, Danny, Ben and Kirsty they all bought lot of small gifts for them.
My day ends with Indian cooking, what I enjoy to do very much.
I came to Cameroon not only for this experience, I have seen few things in my life in India, which are very similar to here, which is as I expected. But with my little knowledge in cricket and time, if I can make any difference of this little boys and girls. I will be satisfied.
Chandra