Egerton Primary School forging links with school in Kenya (From Knutsford Guardian)

Egerton Primary School forging links with school in Kenya

5:40pm Monday 1st February 2010

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THE language of sport is spanning continental boundaries to link up schoolchildren in Knutsford and Kenya.

When Tom Davies and Mark Webb, who run sports coaching company Multiflex, first went to Africa to teach sports to Kenyan children in November 2008, they little knew how popular their programme would be.

Funded by the Rotary Club, the pair went to Egerton Primary School in Nojoro, in the Rift Valley, to build a football and volleyball pitch and give the youngsters sports equipment.

The trip was inspired by Egerton Primary School in Knutsford, which already had educational links with its African sister school.

Now the pair are set to make another trip to Kenya on February 6, along with a full team of 11 others from Egerton, Wincham, Middlewich and Marton primary schools, as well as from Multiflex.

Each of the schools is linking with another school in Kenya, and Leftwich, Rudheath and Comberbach primary schools are also sending work out with the team to begin making connections.

Tom said: “This trip has gone way beyond our expectations in the number of people going and we are also looking at the prospect of linking more local schools.”

He added: “We can create positive links, using sport as a vehicle to promote relationships between young people.

“Sport is a universal language that crosses all boundaries.

“This is developing feelings of self worth, fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork. It’s lovely to watch the children play and see the smiles on their faces.

“Some of these children walk eight miles to school.

“They only had one football to 700 kids at the school we visited last time – when they saw all the shiny new balls, their faces were beaming.

“What they give us is invaluable – you can learn lessons from people without the same advantages as you who are still laughing, smiling and enthusiastic.”

The sporting links also give children the chance to make penfriends and share their stories about what life is like in Kenya and England.

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