{"id":244,"date":"2011-03-15T19:15:15","date_gmt":"2011-03-15T19:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cwbblogs.com\/rwanda2011\/?p=244"},"modified":"2014-01-09T20:28:32","modified_gmt":"2014-01-09T20:28:32","slug":"day-ten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cwbblogs.com\/rwanda2011\/2011\/03\/15\/day-ten\/","title":{"rendered":"Day Ten rain did stop play"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day ten saw us going to an orphanage and then to Derrick\u2019s old school in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

When we arrived at the Pefa orphanage the challenges of getting started on time in the mornings continued, as the older children we should have been coaching were at the primary school up the road. \u00a0We unloaded the mini bus as the plan and our flexibility was tested again. \u00a0This was our first visit to Pefa and we didn\u2019t really know what to expect. \u00a0We walked down a steep dirt hill with all of our kit \u2013 two young children came and hugged a couple of us which made us think a little more of what we were about to see. \u00a0Whilst we waited for the school children to return we entertained the young residents: tennis balls seem to mean a lot in Africa, so we got a few out and played some catching games. \u00a0An instant bond was formed between the team and the youngsters who loved playing with any form of ball \u2013 as the photos will show.<\/p>\n

Once the older ones arrived \u2018real cricket\u2019 coaching could take place.\u00a0 Some of the team were shown around the orphanage to see how the kids lived.\u00a0 We used the video camera in order to capture the experience \u2013 which will be uploaded to the blog once we get back to the UK.\u00a0 Needless to say, the experience was a humbling one, again causing us all to reflect on how we all live in the UK and despite having very little, how cheerful and hard working the kids were.<\/p>\n

Out on the practice area we ran through a series of catching drills, ground fielding exercises, batting drills and some batting games.\u00a0 A really thought provoking morning for all of us.\u00a0 We left Pefa having distributed some of the CWB t-shirts and signed up two of the volunteers for the coached education session on Thursday.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, we moved on to Lycee de Kigali where we were due to coach between 30 and 40 beginners followed by the school team.\u00a0 In the event, the kids just kept coming!\u00a0 It was good that we had a large grassed-ish football pitch to play on as 70 kids turned up.\u00a0 Flexible as ever, we ran a 5-station carousel comprising catching, batting (pull shot & front foot drive) bowling and ground fielding.\u00a0 Once we got going it all worked really well and the session for the beginners ended with a variety of games.\u00a0 For the final hour the school team (squad of 28) turned up.\u00a0 Here we planned 3 stations \u2013 all hard ball batting, bowling (on a flicx pitch) and catching.\u00a0 Unfortunately, half way through the session, the heavens opened and didn\u2019t close!\u00a0 Very wet, the students dashed for the buildings, we dashed for the bus and, for the first time on this trip, RAIN STOPPED PLAY!<\/p>\n