Day 11 from Glenn

As mentioned the previous day, strikes and exams meant our schedule could be interrupted and indeed it was. Morning session was cancelled much to our annoyance and our perseverance was not rewarded. This however allowed the team to catch up on some well needed recovery time and prepare for a big afternoon session.
We headed to Kamwangi primary school where we were greeted by countless excited and screaming kids amazed by the sight of mzungu’s arriving at their school. As soon as we had the gear out of the bus, each of us was in turn mobbed (by the spirited little tearaways as we like to call them) and left with very little room to move. Mac and I tried to resolve the mobbing by smashing balls far into the air to distract them whilst the rest of the team resorted to our pidgeon swahili but there were far too many. Luckily the teachers came out and installed some sort of order and this allowed us to set up or skills stations.

We set up 5 stations and had 2 sessions with approximately 100 in each group though the numbers swelled as per usual and we ended up with over 250 in the sessions combined with another few hundred kids cheering on and fetching balls. Teachers joined in to help with translations and also learn some new cricket skills. The ABC message did not seem to be well rehearsed in the school but by the end of the session they were singing it from the treetops (some kids literally were up the trees waving as we left) which brought a smile to all of us.

I noticed a variety of sweaters that the kids were wearing. All were dark green of the school colours but different emblems on them showing that they had come from a range of sources. Some of them with kiwis on them as if they had come from NZ (home) and from other countries around the world. This was just another sign of how little these kids have but also of the worldwide supporters on show.

For me this is my first trip doing any kind of volunteer work. I had some kind of idea what I would be getting into from my previous travels but being on the ground here in Kenya and venturing into some of the more remote areas away from those frequented by tourists is a real privilege. Seeing the difference we are making and excitement that we bring to some of these kids’ lives is humbling. I know we are only scratching the surface here with our coaching and ABC education but I can see we are heading in the right direction. And from sitting in the office a couple of weeks ago to sitting writing this now I know I have made the right decision – a more than just sacrifice of time, money and effort.

For those of you sat at your desk or in your comfy home reading this, you cannot compare until you have been here. For those of you with washing machine or a TV or a shopping trolley full of food, you cannot compare.
Unless you have been here you cannot compare these two very different worlds. I implore you, I challenge you to come, to come and make a difference, to see what we see, to feel what we feel, to light up a kids face. Why? Because you won’t regret it. I haven’t.