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Braintree Rugby Club to welcome boys from TY Academy in Lesotho
Corinne Winwood31 Jan 2013 - 17:30
Thanks to generous sponsorship, Braintree Rugby Club members will be literally opening their doors to children from Southern Africa in February.
For ten days in February, including half term week, families from Braintree Rugby Club will be hosting 18 kids and 3 teachers/coaches from TY Junior Academy in Lesotho, Southern Africa. The kids are from an extremely poor area of rural Lesotho, and have been identified through the SKRUM Lesotho project. In partnership with TourAid (a kids rugby charity) we will be giving these kids the experience of a lifetime, with a full itinerary of activities planned during their stay.
Our visitors will experience “ a week in the life” of their host families, and learn a little about life in Great Britain. Our kids will gain a bit more understanding and knowledge of another culture and country. Both groups will develop new friendships, with rugby as the catalyst, and it is hoped that Braintree Rugby Club will, through this visit, forge a long term link with TY Junior Academy.
These children have very little, and we as a club are looking at making sure that they go home with more than just happy memories. With this in mind we will be collecting good, clean (washed and ironed please) clothes to suit boys between the ages of 10 and 14 - t-shirts, sweat shirts, jeans, track suit bottoms, jackets - anything in good condition would be gratefully received. These will be sorted into sizes and distributed to the lads when they arrive. Any surplus will be packed and, hopefully, sent back to Lesotho with them.
In addition, we as a club will be looking at providing them with rugby kit to take back home – a shirt, shorts, socks and a back pack. If you would be interested in sponsoring any of these items, or even making a donation towards the costs, however small, please speak to Corinne or email corinneaw@aol.com.
The club will be hosting a Family Karaoke Party for the boys, their host families, and anyone from our extended Braintree 'rugby family' who would like to come along and share the evening. This will take place at the clubhouse on Thursday 21st February from 7pm.
The tour concludes on 22nd February, with BRUFC hosting the TOURAID Cup, a tournament at BRUFC with several local teams.
Touraid have enlisted the help of Allianz staff to act as liaison officers during their visit.
Anyone wishing to help, please contact Philip Fouche, Paul Turner or Corinne Winwood.
Our visitors will experience “ a week in the life” of their host families, and learn a little about life in Great Britain. Our kids will gain a bit more understanding and knowledge of another culture and country. Both groups will develop new friendships, with rugby as the catalyst, and it is hoped that Braintree Rugby Club will, through this visit, forge a long term link with TY Junior Academy.
These children have very little, and we as a club are looking at making sure that they go home with more than just happy memories. With this in mind we will be collecting good, clean (washed and ironed please) clothes to suit boys between the ages of 10 and 14 - t-shirts, sweat shirts, jeans, track suit bottoms, jackets - anything in good condition would be gratefully received. These will be sorted into sizes and distributed to the lads when they arrive. Any surplus will be packed and, hopefully, sent back to Lesotho with them.
In addition, we as a club will be looking at providing them with rugby kit to take back home – a shirt, shorts, socks and a back pack. If you would be interested in sponsoring any of these items, or even making a donation towards the costs, however small, please speak to Corinne or email corinneaw@aol.com.
The club will be hosting a Family Karaoke Party for the boys, their host families, and anyone from our extended Braintree 'rugby family' who would like to come along and share the evening. This will take place at the clubhouse on Thursday 21st February from 7pm.
The tour concludes on 22nd February, with BRUFC hosting the TOURAID Cup, a tournament at BRUFC with several local teams.
Touraid have enlisted the help of Allianz staff to act as liaison officers during their visit.
Anyone wishing to help, please contact Philip Fouche, Paul Turner or Corinne Winwood.
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