Gary Shankland
Kenya HIV Lead
As HIV lead for Kenya, I am keen to continue the development of CWB’s work in the country.
Our time spent in Kenya and elsewhere spent clearly demonstrates that HIV/AIDS is just one of many health and social issues affecting young people. In Kenya, and the Maasai region in particular, there is a very high prevalence of FGM, with many young women experiencing significant health issues as a result. It’s seems a natural progression for our first non-HIV project in Kenya to focus on this matter and seek to use sport as a vehicle for social change.
I am very much looking forward to seeing existing friends in Kenya and to start laying the foundations for a network of contacts working within the FGM field, to mirror the success of our existing HIV model.
Laura Daniels
Project Tutor
I’ve been to North Uganda and Kenya with CWB before and there was no doubt I wanted to travel with them again. The trip to Kenya included a day in the Maasai region we are visiting in Feb and a week coaching with one of the Maasai warriors, Daniel.
His sister is one of the first girls in the region to not undergo FGM and remain in her family and I can’t wait to meet her. Seeing the great work that is achieved by CWB in increasing HIV/AIDS awareness means that transferring this to help with other social and health issues such as FGM is an exciting one.
Ann-Marie Wilson
28 Too Many’s Executive Director
I am pleased that 28 Too Many is partnering with CWB and the Maasai Cricket Warriors on this innovative new project.
I have been a regular visitor to Kenya over the last 14 years and whilst there has been a very welcome 10% overall reduction in FGM in recent years it remains a widespread practice in some groups including the Maasai. Therefore it is exciting to be invited alongside CWB to provide education on FGM and support local communities in ending this harmful practice.
Esther Njenga
28 Too Many’s Researcher and Africa Co-Ordinator
Since joining 28 Too Many I have learnt more about the scale and impact of FGM in Kenya as well as using my legal skills & experience to contribute to ‘the law and FGM’ on two 28 Too Many FGM Country Reports. I have also met many people and organisations from different parts of Kenya that are campaigning against FGM and there is a growing momentum to end the practice.
I am looking forward to joining the CWB team and being part of this exciting new project to use cricket to engage communities, empower young people and bring about a positive change for girls and women by ending FGM.
Katie McLean
Midwife
I have been a qualified midwife for 4 years. During my training I did an elective project where I visited a clinic that women could have de-infibulation (a surgical FGM reversal procedure) and was inspired by the work they did. Once qualified, I cared for women who had been affected by FGM and saw first-hand how it could affect them both physically and mentally.
This is my first trip to Kenya with CWB and I’m really excited to see how a project like this can have a real impact on the lives of local girls. I am hoping to bring my midwifery knowledge to the team and what I learn whilst I am out in Kenya, to help women locally back in the UK.
Tracey Davies
CWB’s Kenya Country Manager
This will be my 4th time in Kenya with CWB, and I am really excited to be going again with a great group of people to help tackle a really important issue. I love Kenya and am so pleased to be involved in volunteering for a great charity.
I volunteer as the Kenya Country Manager, so I have been working to organise this project in partnership with Cricket Kenya, 28 Too Many and the Maasai Cricket Warriors. I have been putting together a busy schedule; ensuring that accommodation and transport is organised so that the project runs as smoothly as possible when we are there. This will mean that we can make as much of as a difference as we possibly can, in the time we have. I am also looking forward to having a Tusker (Kenyan beer), seeing giraffes roaming free against an African sunset after a hard day of cricket coaching.
Julia Farman
CWB’s Female Engagement and Empowerment Lead
This will be my fourth trip with CWB, and on each trip I am always excited to be part of a charity that seeks to promote gender equality and getting more females involved with sport in the countries the Cricket Without Boundaries works in.
It’s great that CWB have teamed up with the FGM charity 28 Too Many and the Cricket Maasai Warriors to deliver this project, and working together we can help to deliver a positive change to many young girls’ lives through cricket.
Hannah Weaver
CWB Operations Manager
I have worked for CWB for three years and in that time I have witnessed first-hand the power that sport has to change lives. As we begin our 10th Anniversary year I am excited and proud to be part of this unique and ground-breaking project in Kenya.
The Charity we are working with 28 Too Many states “FGM affects the physical and psychological health of girls and women; decreases their attendance and performance at school; fails to meet their gender equality rights; and risks their lives at the time of FGM, at marriage and during childbirth. FGM affects up to 3 million girls a year, one every 10 seconds.” As the mother of a young daughter I am passionate about campaigning for the rights of young girls and women everywhere and look forward to seeing how the project can help end FGM.