In 2013, Leeds Trinity University became the first university to partner with Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB), a UK cricket development and HIV and Aids awareness charity. The partnership presented an opportunity for the University to engage in global citizenship by fundraising and volunteering in Africa while offering students the chance to deliver health awareness messages through sport. CWB’s mission is to spread participation in cricket while incorporating awareness of HIV and Aids. The charity has delivered more than 50 projects in nine African countries, coaching more than 250,000 children and training over 3,500 coaches. Implementation Leeds Trinity students are given the opportunity to undertake a two-week visit to one of five African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Cameroon.
Second year students have the chance to take part in the project as part of the second professional work placement that all Leeds Trinity students complete as part of their degrees. Leeds Trinity students are joined by other CWB volunteers to ensure a good mix of qualified coaches and non-coaches. The visits to Africa comprise two, week-long projects in two locations: one in a large town or city, and the other in a rural location. For each project, students train local PE teachers on integrating coaching with HIV and Aids awareness messages before delivering cricket sessions in various schools over the week. On the final day of each project, all the schools come together for a festival before the project runs again one week later in a different location.
In the last three years, 12 students from Leeds Trinity University have taken part in four trips to Africa, and this year another five are taking part in a trip to Rwanda. Between them, they have supported the charity in coaching more than 8,000 children and training over 150 coaches. Students have returned with an enormous sense of achievement. As well as boosting their confidence and enhancing life experiences, all students have a greater understanding of how sport can be used to highlight key health-awareness messages. As a result of their experiences, two students are now writing dissertations on the use of sport as a development tool abroad. The partnership has benefited Leeds Trinity by internationalising its curriculum and providing amazing opportunities for students. There is an excellent exchange of knowledge between the student volunteers who support CWB and the children they coach, but also between the teachers they work with whilst in Africa, many of whom have years of teaching experience as well as cultural and life experiences to share with the volunteers. For more information, you can download the full report on http://www.guildhe.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/6710-Guild-HE-Active-Citizenship-Report-44pp.pdf
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