One of the objectives of our CWB project is to introduce cricket to new areas of Rwanda and what better place to do this than at 2400m in the vertiginous tea plantations of Kitabi. But if there is one thing we have learnt during our time together so far, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome together and we were not going to let the landscape get the better of us.
So after an early sunrise pilates session at 5.30am and a hearty breakfast, we headed off to our first school GS Shaba about 45 minutes away along a winding track past the Kitabi Tea Factory.
We were greeted by hordes of children waving and shouting, clearly excited to play some cricket! As we approached the school it became clear that there was no place to set up for our session here, so Eddie performed one of his incredible 3 point turns in the smallest of places and we headed to the “ground”.
What greeted us was a field located at the bottom of the valley. As the children ran laughing down a variety of paths, we carefully picked our way down the steep sides through the tea plantation to set up, with the full knowledge that we had to climb back up at the end.
With the grazing goats moved to a safe spot, we set up 3 stations and started with around 300 children. We were soon joined by about 60 spectators sitting on the banks so Amy set up a 4th station taking us to a total 367 for the morning!
A quick hop and a skip up the mountain for all of us took us back to the bus to go to our next stop – Kitabi Tea Factory.
We quickly met the Factory manager and then went to the field where we were due to hold a game of cricket for the workers, many of whom were parents of the kids we had just seen at the first school. Players were looking thin on the ground so we started playing cricket ourselves and gradually people emerged – some pacey bowlers and demon batters amongst them. After about 20 minutes we had around 30 workers joining us so started a game of rapid fire – mayhem ensued with great commitment from all players – exceptional catches, canny batting using the terrain to their advantage with everyone having a great time.
With dark clouds looming after lunch, we headed off for EP Mujuga, deep in the tea plantations. So deep in fact that we headed off in several wrong directions, with another of Eddie’s stomach curdling 3 points turns on the edge of the drop to the valley below. Despite arriving half an hour late, the children were excited for our arrival, lined up ready to learn some cricket. With limited space to use (something we are getting used to), we set up 3 stations of batting, catching and the old favourite, head, shoulders, knees and Rwandan gorillas with a background of rumbling thunder! We tried to play through the inevitable biblical downpour but had to retire early as rain stopped play.
We drove back home through the downpour, which didn’t dampen our spirits as a we had birthdays to celebrate! Our esteemed TL Nick and coach extraordinaire Andrew sharing a birthday meant special celebrations. Matt had sorted a cake earlier, which had sadly missed the bus from Huye, so was arriving in the storm by motorcycle, safely clasped between the thighs of the driver.
Yummy – couldn’t wait for a slice of that!!
One thing you can guarantee here, Rwanda brings the unexpected and the glorious every day!
Michele
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