Students return from sports expedition to Kenya
A group of volunteers from the University of Portsmouth have returned from a month long expedition to Africa to teach sports to some of Kenya’s poorest rural communities. They were part of a group of 21 students from the Universities of Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Surrey and Southampton, who have been inspiring African youngsters across a range of sports.
They spent time with four Kenyan costal village communities, and used their coaching skills to teach football, netball and athletics; they also spent time developing the sports facilities in the four community schools, such as preparing football pitches and erecting football and netball posts. The trip culminated with an interschool sports festival which attracted over 500 people from the local community as well as figureheads within education and community development.
At the festival’s closing ceremony the district’s Chief of Education spoke of his support for the work of the volunteers.
He said that the sports programme had provided the community with positive role models and given opportunities to young people in the community that they may not have otherwise had and in particular he recognised the positive effect participation in sport had on females in his community.
The expedition was established by former University of Portsmouth student Barry Squires, who is now Sports Development Manager at the University of Bournemouth, in partnership with volunteering organisation Camps International. Since the first expedition in 2007 the number of participating institutions and students has doubled. Barry said: “The trip is
all about sharing and enhancing the lives of others less fortunate, whilst using sport as a vehicle for making this happen. The long term aim is to see the programme grow through partnerships with further universities and continue to help these communities develop in ways which doesn’t challenge their culture.”
The students took with them more than 70 pairs of football boots and sports kit donated by the University’s Football club. Charlotte Doyle, from the University’s Sports Department accompanied the students. She said that it had been a very rewarding trip: “In the UK we take our facilities and our access to sports kit for granted but these kids really appreciated the things we did for them and the equipment we brought” Following the success of the 2009 expedition, plans are already underway for 2010. It is hoped that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will help encourage support and give additional momentum to the programme. If you’re interested in helping, visit upforsport.co.uk for more info.
Photo by ILRI.
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