Jambo, Habari yako. Mzuri Sana. Lawsy here today hope all is well. I will try and keep it simple and to the point but it was our first busy full swing day today with our schedule being packed full of teaching, coaching and digging, yes digging. We arose early doors and headed across Nairobi to Alive and Kicking Ball Factory which we have visited previously. We again ordered numerous footballs with the embedded samba logo and HIV aids awareness panels hand stitched in by workers. The company is a not for profit organisation which provides jobs to over 200 locals and produces high quality hand stitched footballs. We were warmly received and treated to a tour of the factory.
After leaving we headed straight to Chamrecc School. Chamrecc is located in a small slum called Mitumba which is one of the poorest slums in Kenya. The schools aim is to provide all the children in the community with primary and secondary basic needs, i.e. food, clothes, housing and education. They take care of every child including those who are HIV positive and orphans. We have previously visited the school and have over the years built up strong working links. Upon arrival we were greeted by old friends Dan and head teacher Cha Cha. Over the past year we have been fundraising to raise sufficient funds in order to provide a water tank for the school. Thankfully we have reached our target and we can do what we can to help our friends and the school. Some people think we have come away for a holiday but the truth is really the opposite. Completely the opposite. We all stepped up to the plate and put the graft in. Managing to dig a 6 foot trench which will hold the 7ft by 7ft water tank. This was no easy feat in the clay baked hot African conditions. We have laid the stone foundations and tomorrow we will mix the cement.
After lunch, myself and Sean led a coaching session which two classes from the school. Whilst John prepared for his evening session with the Samba Girls football team. I started with a simple warm up and played numerous games resulting in a game of football rounder’s which was warmly received. Today was the first day of coaching at Chamrecc so we wanted to keep it fun and simple. We will work more with the ball in the days to come. At this point of the day it was fair to say I was ready to call it a day but no rest for the wicked. We said Kwa heri to the students and left to return tomorrow. We headed straight across Langata to meet with the Sunderland Samba Girls team along with Sadili Boys. This was the first coaching session we have run with our newly formed squad. It went very well, the banter was flying and bonds are starting to be made with the team who will travel north with us to Naivasha next week. The continued highlight is the local kids shouting Kitambi (big belly) at Coxie along with my 2 magic tricks which have the kids baffled. Neither ever get old. There is so much more I could write but it is now late and have little energy left and have to do it all again tomorrow. The ball is just staring to roll again and the banter is building. Long may it continue. Asante sana rafiki. Kwa Heri.
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