Some amazing stats to begin: by the end of our 2 week trip, our little group of volunteers in Rwanda managed to deliver 34 cricket sessions over 49 hours, reaching almost 5000 children!
It was a team effort that we can all be proud of, as spending some long days coaching in the sunshine wasn’t always easy. I enjoyed seeing different members of our group step up at different times to lead in different ways- from Yolanda making sure that we incorporated our social messaging with our cricket coaching; to Ned superbly leading the coordination of two cricket tournaments, each for several hundred primary and secondary students; to Sarah making huge strides in leading sessions in a sport she had never played or coached before. We were all willing to pull our weight, and everyone helped support each other as energy and health levels flagged over the 2 weeks, and I think that team spirit made our trip successful.
Also, I have to mention Eric Ndanga’s vital contribution as our main in-country coordinator, without which we could have delivered very little coaching. He was always on the phone making sure we could attend our demanding schedule of schools visits, but more importantly his attitude was always super positive- which we appreciated as we faced inevitable delays, rearrangements, and cancellations. I think Eric inviting us to stop off at his house and meet his wife and newborn baby daughter was a magical moment for everyone, reflecting how much we all bonded during the trip.
It was intense and tiring spending two weeks coaching thousands of children, but I learned to appreciate the value of CWB’s unique approach. As a former professional cricketer, it would have been easy to focus on spotting talented players, as if I was looking for Rwanda’s next international cricketer. But with CWB, our approach was different. We focused on creating coaching environments that reinforced the social values of cricket, rather than just performance. The goal was to make sure everyone felt included, equal, respected, and had fun while working together as a team.
This approach showed how cricket could teach skills that are important in life beyond the game, whilst the fun element kept the kids engaged and eager to return. It was incredibly rewarding to hear so many of them say, ‘I had fun, I learned something, and I want to play more cricket in the future!’
Thanks again to our impressive volunteer coaching group, who made the experience fly past pretty much seamlessly and in great humour, and I wish them all the best in future endeavours! Having given a lot, I know we will all take a lot away from this trip.
To conclude, I will recommend taking part in a CWB trip to anyone thinking about it! It gave me a chance to travel to a country I probably would never have otherwise visited; to share the message that cricket is an inclusive sport to new participants; and to contribute to a partnership which is visibly making a difference to Rwanda’s cricketing landscape. You won’t regret giving your time for this great cause.
Until the next time!
Abi
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