mandag 27. juli 2015

A football field

In march this year my parents came to visit. We had a nice time together, and enjoyed their stay thoroughly. 

When it came close to their departure they told us that they had decided to help us raise money to be able to create a football field. Touched by what they had seen here, they have the desire to bring some joy the vulnerable children in the community. And something else to do than to suit around all day.
Arriving back home in Norway they got their friends together and collected the funds we needed. Now three months later the field is so to say done. Even some football's sponsored by their local bank  (Vegårshei Sparebank) are on their way to us.
The unofficial name of Rwanda 'The country of the thousand hills' also applied where we decide to build the field. So due to the landscape, the construction of was far from an easy task. With no digging machines available there where many strong arms and wheelbarrow's needed. All in all it took 15 people approximately three weeks to finish the field. They did a great job. It was hard work, but they all where really happy to have the opportunity to have a payed job for that amount of time.
All our projects are aimed to serve the poorest people in the community and most so the children. Whether we do health-work, vocational training, agriculture, schooling etc. The goal is to strengthen the smallest and weakest of the region. Where ever you look three are needs. Often it is a challenge to find out where to start. This time it was easy. The local's seem to simply LOVE football. It gathers young and old, it creates entertainment, it gives the children something to engage in. And further, through the organised training, it can create discipline, joy, ability to work in team, a healthy body, a break, learning good values, even keeping kids out of trouble and making bad choices. There is already a football team in the village of older kids. Now they are looking for people that would like to take part in training the youngsters. Lets see how that goes. Amiss, our colleague, would for now be the head coach☺.
As a part of the official opening of the field we arranged an opening match. It was our team against the leaders of the village. A very tense and exiting match that ended 0-0. If it wasn't for the small goals - and a goal keeper we more or less glue in place, we would definitely have lost. It was great fun and a good work out for all involved.
It was also so much fun to see how the kids, in the moment they got sight of a football flooded the field. All running in a big huddle after the round rolling and bouncing leathery joy bringer. Here are some photos from the event.

The planting of grass will have to wait till the rainy season. So also the erection of the big size goals. But the field is usable already now. As you can see on the pictures.
The local elders and leaders all thanked us for creating this place for sport and enjoyment.

In the making

In the making

In the making


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MDC dream team



Sophia also joined

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