The 'Great Football Giveaway' in Ngoma. Yehaa!!!!
on Tina in Rwanda (Rwanda), 13/Sep/2009 14:07, 34 days ago
Please note that VSO is in no way connected with or responsible for the content, comments and observations in this blog: these are solely my own in a personal capacity.Hi all,I hope you are all well. This week has been incredible busy with all sorts of events. I did run two work shops in quite far out areas and they were great fun, even though it was incredible hot in the classrooms and that can be quite challenging. The teachers were amazing and so interested in the different topics and therefore....as always..... running the work shops just felt right and was a real pleasure.Also, on Monday I received a phone call from Paul and Jason from 'The Great Football Give Away' who were on their way to Kibungo. You should check out their webside as it is really cool what they do and it would be great if you can support them in their future work.http://thegreatfootballgiveaway.org.ukA few hours later they did rock up with a car full of balls and camera gear and of we went to different schools and places in the Ngoma District.We drove along the roads and when we saw kids playing with self made balls we stopped and supplied them with proper footballs or netballs.Wouw...they eyes did light up and the kids were in between disbelieve and happiness. It was great to see them kicking of the proper balls and playing.The nicest was to go to one field with heaps of kids and giving them balls. These children were just so happy and could not stop playing. I am definetely going back there and kick some balls, as I played myself for about 7 years.The evening was great as we did have some good food and Mutzig and it was great to talk. Paul and Jason are two really interesting characters and totally open minded and king sized fun to hang out with. Yes....hi 'Billy and little sister'....Daddy was here in the middle of nowhere near Kibungo!!!!!!On Tuesday we all had breakfast at my house and then they gave me a lift to one of my schools - that was great....no Motorbike ride in the morning!!! When we arrived at the school Paul and Jason did give away loads of balls. It was great!Rwandan disciplineHappy faces, kids being kids and just playing. But....what are they actually looking at...????......ah....Jason is filming...the future football stars in 'Sake'.Yes guys....this is a big 'Thank you' form the kids very close to the Burundian border to everybody who did support the 'Great Football Give Away'. These kids are playing with the balls you helped to buy.The work shop was great even though I felt so tired after a very short night!!! As always we had a huge amount of pupils looking through the windows and trying to find out what is going on in the classrooms. The kids do love it when we sing songs or when I introduce games to the teachers.On the way back I passed by the place were the others were. So I just jumped of the motor bike and enjoyed the rest of the day driving around with the others, bringing balls to the children and playing with them.Children next to the football pitch.Children playing football in the background. Some children have to take care of their little sibblings but they do enjoy watching the game.Everybody from the area is coming and checking out the football field. This little girl looks very mailnutritient and I just hope for the people that the rain will start very soon!!!Paul and Jason did leave a box full of balls with me and my plan is to go to really far out areas that you cannot reach with a car but just with a Motor bike and bring balls to the children that do live in the most disadvantaged areas.Future football stars posing at the side of the roadIt is getting dark and we are stopping along the road to play with children.The children are in disbelief about the ballsThis is probably the first time in their lifes that somebody gave a present to these kids. The life of children over here is so very different. That does not mean that they are more or less happy than children at home. It is just different and these kids really did appreciate the balls.It will be great to go to the places where the children did receive balls and to supply balls to more areas and I am looking forward to play with the children in the middle of nowhere.Thanks Jason and Paul, I had two great days with you and ...Sarah....send your husband to a free climbing course next time, as he almost fell down the hill while trying to bring the ball to some kids who we could not reach otherwise!!! He is a crazy, good hearted 'Muzungo'.Jason and Paul slipping down hill.'Guys...it is actually a long way down and....I know you are really keen on bringing those balls to the kids down there.........but.....what about staying alive!!!'On Wednesday Anna moved into the house and Jason moved nearby. It is great to have two more VSOs in Kibungo and they are incredible nice and it will be so much easier to work in a team! Great fun!!! That is a very happy 'ME'!!!!!!!!Thursday was another work shop. It is cool, as I came past a school were Paul and Jasone were on Tuesday and I saw the kids playing with the balls and having fun. I just love it when they take their sandals of and play barefoot as that is better for kicking the ball and they can run faster.Well....when I needed to run to the bus stop on Friday to catch the bus to Kigali....I did take of my shoes and did run bare foot...as it actually is ..... much easier!!! I guess I am becoming Rwandan.On Saturday Anna, Jason and I did travel to Lake Muhazi and had a really nice and relaxing time there. Jason is really into birdwatching and he did show us the most amazing eagle I ever saw in my life.The week has been very busy but very good.I hope that you are all well,take care,have a great week,xxx Tina