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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis\u00a0afternoon\u2019s\u00a0school was\u00a0an all-girls Catholic\u00a0school, one of many in the\u00a0country. In a\u00a0very\u00a0cramped\u00a0courtyard, we delivered to over 120\u00a0fantastically energetic and enthusiastic teenagers,\u00a0who had\u00a0a brilliant grasp of English and a keen sense of self\u00a0worth. It was particularly interesting\u00a0to note that what\u00a0they did lack was\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0the reluctance that many\u00a0other teenage girls to\u00a0exert themselves\u00a0or show embarrassment. It\u00a0did occur to me that one of the reasons that some girls were reluctant to get stuck in\u00a0at other schools was their lack of\u00a0having a bra, with the obvious discomfort and embarrassment that causes.\u00a0When\u00a0todays\u2019 girls\u00a0were asked the question \u201cAre\u00a0boys were more important\u00a0than\u00a0girls?\u201d\u00a0there was a resounding \u201dNo!\u201d But when then asked\u00a0\u201dAre\u00a0girls were more important than boys?\u201d, there was a resounding\u00a0\u201cYes\u201d! Not\u00a0the usual response we\u00a0have had – and I had to remind them that gender equality meant\u00a0equal levels of importance! Fredy, one of the Rwandan male coaches,\u00a0was highly amused by this. Girl power indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLater in the day, we\u00a0were again reminded of the vast differences between many of the publicly run schools and those funded by the churches or\u00a0international\u00a0charities.\u00a0We had been asked to spend some time during lunchtime socialising with youngsters informally in their play and then coach some if the younger children. It turned into nearly an hour of informal\u00a0ball games,\u00a0with the children dipping in and out as they saw fit. This was great fun, but at times\u00a0tricky to manage without getting swamped by little hands grabbing at you skin asking and asking for\u00a0tennis balls or water.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their facilities\u00a0were clearly not as comfortable at other privately run establishments – as illustrated when one child injured his foot. Katy and one of the older children took him to one side and attempted to find a teacher to take\u00a0responsibility (not an easy task), and he was carried somewhere comfortable by Ndanga, where Gabby\u00a0was able to tend to\u00a0his nasty cut. He had reopened an older wound and will be fine – he was so brave! It\u2019s amazing what a tennis ball, some stickers and a bottle of pop can do to lift a little lad\u2019s spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSome thoughts spring to mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many similarities between Rwandan and\u00a0British schoolchildren. They live to play, respond well to kindness, get embarrassed sometimes, are lazy sometimes, are cheeky sometimes, and they\u00a0care what their\u00a0friends think of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest differences?\u00a0Their school\u00a0facilties\u00a0are occasionally not on a par with UK schools. Their class sizes are generally much bigger\u00a0and they have less access to specialist equipment such as sports fields, science labs etc. But\u00a0for me the most\u00a0significant\u00a0difference is that these youngsters are tougher, more resilient, take on more family responsibilities and, for want of a better phrase,\u00a0are\u00a0less mollycoddled.\u00a0I am in awe of their strength and seemingly limitless supply of warmth and curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just one more day to go – a\u00a0kwik\u00a0cricket tournament – and then home the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What a truly incredible two weeks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allyson Byrne<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s been our\u00a0last full\u00a0day\u00a0of coaching today and boy oh boy\u00a0was\u00a0it\u00a0a day\u00a0of contrasts! Our meet time\u00a0today\u00a0was…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cwbblogs.com\/rwanda2023\/files\/2023\/10\/1DDC430D-080C-4AC1-82DE-91F332D757F1.jpeg\")
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