On the first weekend of their stay in Zambia, IDEALS students Ella Hewton from Loughborough and Florence Glen from Durham University were invited to play for the Rim Oilers basketball team.
Both girls are valuable members of their respective University teams and have been sharing their expertise at their chosen placements since they arrived just over a week ago. Ella has been concentrating her efforts towards the Fountain of Hope which is a boy’s orphanage, central to Lusaka. She has been taking basketball, netball and football sessions. Flo has been taking basketball sessions and working with the Zambian Basketball Association, this is equivalent to a National Governing Body in the UK. She is also coaching teams in the youth league, which was set up by Mwape Konsolo who is the programme and development manager within the charity Sport in Action, which works closely with the IDEALS project. It was set up as a free league for young people, who could then feed into the ZBA.
After their first week of coaching both girls were invited to play as guests for the women’s basketball team, the Rim Oilers, who are a team within the ZBA. As they arrived at the centre both their excitement and nerves were increasing. Unsure what to expect the girls found their coach and changed into their new uniforms, hand made by their team mates. Once rivals, the girls now had to work together in their first African basketball experience.
Inside the hall there was an electric atmosphere with many young men and women turning out to watch the game. The opposition was to be the Green Buffalos, an army team who have a reputation for being a very strong squad. The talk around the hall was that the Oilers wouldn’t stand a chance…
I spoke to the girls before the match to find out how they were feeling…
It was a very physical game and was closely fought, right up to the last quarter. Unfortunately the girls finished behind at 59-65, however with only a 6 point difference it was a good achievement for a team that wasn’t expected to challenge their opponents. The girls will continue to play for the team during their remaining four weeks in Zambia and share their knowledge and experience across the local area. Both were great ambassadors for their Universities and the IDEALS project.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Group 3- Journey, Inductions and the first week!
With group three being the smallest with just 10 IDEALS students, it was not long before they found each other at the airport. There was a buzz of excitement amongst the students about what to expect, as well as anything important they may have forgotten to pack! After a long flight the plane touched down in Zambia at six in the morning, slightly earlier than planned, meaning the group had a brief encounter with group 2 students, who were in floods of tears! Thinking they were all a bit too emotional group three headed off with Tom and Sarah to the IDEALS house! Considering the excitement and noise the students had previously been making, the bus journey to the house was relatively quiet, with the students awe struck with what they saw, needless to say it was a bit of a culture shock for all!
The first few days of the teams stay involved basic introductions into Zambian life. Including getting used to the bumpy roads, the crazy buses, the money and the heat!
After a two day induction including a group visit to all the different sites, the students began their placements. Straight away they had to overcome several obstacles; limited equipment, varying group sizes and an adaption of their sessions as children arrived for training a good hour after it had begun! Next week the students will have to adapt again as the summer holiday cease and school starts back again in Zambia!
However, all of this aside, the Zambian peer leaders have been really supportive to all students and the children appear to be enjoying every minute. The weekend saw a mixture of activities taking place amongst the students, some visited the rural village, others coached sessions or attended tournaments whilst a few relaxed in the sun and caught up on sleep!
Monday has come back around again and the students begin another week of hard work, what lies in stores nobody knows, we will be back soon with all of group 3s adventures…
The first few days of the teams stay involved basic introductions into Zambian life. Including getting used to the bumpy roads, the crazy buses, the money and the heat!
After a two day induction including a group visit to all the different sites, the students began their placements. Straight away they had to overcome several obstacles; limited equipment, varying group sizes and an adaption of their sessions as children arrived for training a good hour after it had begun! Next week the students will have to adapt again as the summer holiday cease and school starts back again in Zambia!
However, all of this aside, the Zambian peer leaders have been really supportive to all students and the children appear to be enjoying every minute. The weekend saw a mixture of activities taking place amongst the students, some visited the rural village, others coached sessions or attended tournaments whilst a few relaxed in the sun and caught up on sleep!
Monday has come back around again and the students begin another week of hard work, what lies in stores nobody knows, we will be back soon with all of group 3s adventures…
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