A famous UK politician once said ‘There is no such thing as society’ … Well, many Rwandans would disagree, as the last Saturday of every month sees Rwandans across the nation give up three hours of their morning to engage in activities to benefit society as a whole. ‘Umaganda’, as it is known, includes a wide range of public-spirited activities, ranging from litter-picking to volunteering in schools, medical centres etc. So at 10am a group of volunteers from CWB and the Rwanda men’s cricket team could be found digging and hoeing alongside local people to widen the ditch/flood-relief system in Nyamata. My hoeing, whilst largely ineffective, enabled me to toil alongside a local teacher and the only person ever to look cool in an outsize cowboy hat… We have much to learn from Rwandans !
‘What is this life, so full of care
We have no time to stop and stare?’
We are all encouraging each other to look up, to look around and just feast in the sights, noises and smells of wherever we may be at the time. It seems that wherever you are in Rwanda you can look or point your camera in any direction and see something truly wonderful. Today I have seen some beautiful birds of prey and a tiny African frog (photo) but sadly, no goats.
This afternoon saw us facilitating a Kwik Cricket tournament for four schools, who each fielded a primary school team and a secondary school team of equal numbers of girls and boys. I am no cricket expert but smiles abounded, everyone whacked a few balls around, and Girl Power was clearly visible.
Part of the joy of the festival was seeing several of the Rwandan national men’s team chatting to the children and answering their questions. Many of them had their first introduction to cricket through a similar CWB festival over the last decade. There was amazing enthusiasm from all the children and who knows if a future Rwandan player was there today!
‘Hope of known bliss and faith in bliss unknown’ is as good a reason as any to travel the world .. Today, like each day before, has been vibrant, fun, unpredictable and deeply thought-provoking .
Laurence Clarke – played cricket in Priory Park with my cousin as a kid; now, drunk by lunchtime at the England/Ireland Lord’s Test.
[The photo below is of the author taking a blinding catch – ed.]
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