Rain, mud and football

Damn, time goes by fast sometimes... just a couple of weeks out from the second Michezo Youth tournament and the new, fully developed website is up. More than just a few photos now. A few sleepless nights trying to get this finished amongst all the other work I have going on at the moment. Too busy, too busy, such is my life away from the corporate world, busier than ever!

www.michezoyouth.com

Please check the site out, and (one final mention), please, please if you can spare a couple of bucks do so at www.justgiving.com/michezo/. Was REALLY relying on friends and "friends of friends" to cover the first year's funding for this project. Am very confident of finding local funding for the long term future, but need this first 12 month "breathing space" to get the project up and running, bring the local youth volunteers up to speed with the tasks required, and accumulate enough data to validate the program objectives. You can also download a PDF "poster" that hopefully some of you might be able to print out and post up in your office? If possible... along with sending this email out to your friends...

As I said, won't mention it again, but please, wish me a Merry Christmas by donating a few dollars. I will be able to tell you exactly where your cash goes. And with over 600 kids playing in the first tournament, and around 10,000 children in the Kiandutu slum area, I dare say we'll be reaching a fair few within this first 12 months... with your help.

www.justgiving.com/michezo/

Speaking of getting the local youth "up to speed", have been trying to hand over many of the planning tasks to them for this tournament. It means a lot of hand holding to start off with, but only to be expected. Considering that none of them have ever done anything remotely like this, they're actually doing quite well. As with the first tournament in October, if nothing else the Kenyan youth are adaptable when it comes to completing a task. With a little bit of guidance and training I'm confident of them being able to do much more than just run a couple of football tournaments. We start with little steps...

Been raining like cats and dogs here recently. The "short rains" they call it, but seems like bloody long rains to me! Get anywhere away from the main town or highways and there is mud everywhere! Especially chronic in the slum area where we're running the football tournaments, Kiandutu. Rivers of mud flowing through the streets. Sorry Nat, no high heels here! But the kids love it of course... mud and water and slipperiness everywhere...

Speaking of mud and rain, I see the Wobblies got beaten by the Irish last weekend. Seems like we're a shoe in to NOT win the World Cup next year. I guess it will be kind of relaxing going into a tournament with no expectations for once. Seems that everything else there's all this pressure on us to win, so should be a relaxing tournament for the guys. Might have time to pick up a few French ladies... And ya gotta LOVE them French ladies... ;o)

Okay, that's it from me, just a quickie. Take care all, and hope you enjoy the start of the festive season!