Training Weekend

Two weeks ahead of my project starting in Kenya, Cricket Without Boundaries arranged for all the volunteers (including those on the Uganda and Rwanda projects) to attend a training weekend in another exotic location I have never visited before; Birmingham. The training weekend is a chance to bond with the other volunteers on your trip, to learn more about the aims of the project and hear from the experiences of the trustees and long-standing volunteers.

Typically the weekend is split between practical sessions in a school gym and information sessions in a classroom. The Bluecoat School in Birmingham had kindly donated their facilities for this purpose, their immaculate School grounds certain to be miles removed from what awaits us in Kenya.

The practical sessions were a good chance to brush up on my coaching skills. As a very rusty ‘Level One’ coach who qualified nearly ten years ago and hasn’t actively coached in close to five it was very useful to have a dry run. Also it allowed us to think about how best to incorporate the ‘ABC’ message into our lessons. ‘ABC’ is a common acronym in Africa in the HIV awareness campaign. A stands for Abstain, Be is Be faithful and C is for Condom.

There was also an opportunity to learn more about the facts and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS in one of the classroom based sessions. I must admit that this session was a real eye-opener for me. Whether it is British character and natural reserve, or the fact that AIDS isn’t as common in modern Britain, I must admit to having large areas of ignorance about the disease, and there seems to be a natural involuntary reaction of nerves and tightening stomach muscles even when someone else is talking. Speaking about sexually transmitted diseases is not something that comes easily to many people I imagine, I can still remember how forced and embarrassing sex education classes were at school. But if I feel uncomfortable, even in a room full of new friends with no intention of judging me, you can only imagine what it must be like in an African society with all the stigmas attached, and where 8% of the country are infected. So I promised myself to try and take a deep breath, overcome my natural shyness, and be as open and honest as possible when I am in Africa.

The weekend ended with a competition on the ‘Crazy Catch’ device, a kind of faulty tight-sprung mattress where the ball bounces off at unusual angles. Somehow I managed to win first prize with my score of 48, something that will come as a massive shock to anyone who has had the misfortune of relying on my fielding in a game.

Now as the days to the project count down and inversely the butterflies in my stomach begin to multiply it just remains for me to say that I can’t wait to touch down in Kenya and tell you all about my experiences of Africa.

Gareth

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Introduction – Gareth

Hello. To begin this blog I thought it would be best to firstly introduce myself and explore a few of the reasons why myself, and others, would choose to volunteer for Cricket Without Boundaries.

In my day job, I work with many volunteers and an often asked question in my office is what motivates someone to volunteer either their time or their money to support a specific cause. I am not going to pretend that this is a purely altruistic decision, although the reason for me is a combination of supporting a cause that is very close to my heart and that this project appeals to me as an opportunity for adventure.

I am an avowed globe trotter, having previously spent time working in China, the US and Australia, and having travelled across the Trans-Siberian Railway and down Route 101. Where possible I like to experience the authentic culture of the countries that I visit. I realise that this statement is a massive cliché, and in some ways an unobtainable ideal, but nevertheless this is the reason I would never choose to spend my time abroad staying entirely at a beach resort or on a game reserve.

This project will offer at the very least a sample of Africa, the one continent that I have never visited. I have heard it said that people tend to love or loathe Africa, now is my opportunity to see where I stand in this equation. Two weeks is not long enough to answer all the questions I have, but I will try and learn as much as I can and to report as truthfully as possible what I find and how I feel.

As mentioned the second main reason why I have chosen Cricket Without Boundaries is the cause. I believe in youth development, supporting the developing world and educating the vulnerable about the dangers of HIV, what right minded person doesn’t? In addition I am also hopelessly addicted to the game of cricket. The combination of these factors is something that tempted me to apply.

As a proud Yorkshireman, I do sometimes wonder if cricket is hard-wired into my DNA. Growing up amidst the greying mills of rural Huddersfield, in a land of Wilfred Rhodes, George Hirst and Ryan Sidebottom, filled with villages huddled protectively around their each and own cricket field. Despite my own (limited) cricketing skills I have gained an incredible amount of enjoyment from the game, and I hope I can pass this thrill and excitement on to the people I meet in Kenya.

Having met the other volunteers at the training weekend it is clear there are a variety of reasons why others apply. There is a wide range in age and in cricketing experience. Some of the volunteers are experienced coaches who work in cricket and youth development as part of their career, others have little knowledge of the game and were attracted more by the HIV awareness aspect. One coach explained to me that he spends much of his life coaching privileged children at private schools, so this was an opportunity to give something back to the game.

I look forward to telling you more about my project over the next two weeks.

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