COVID 19 UPDATE
Across the world, daily lives are being impacted by the spread of Covid-19, and we wanted to take a moment to update our supporters on how this has impacted Cricket Builds Hope, and the work we are currently doing to ensure we are ready to play a small part in the response to the pandemic.
Rwanda began a two-week lock-down on 22 March and has registered 70 cases of coronavirus so far. This means, unfortunately, there is no cricket being played at the Gahanga stadium and with all schools shut no coaching being conducted in our Yorkshire Tea-sponsored programme. But we are in regular contact with our Country Manager, Mary Maina, who is working from home and everyone is itching to re-start activities there just as soon as the outbreak is under control.
In the UK we have had to cancel this month's Trustee meeting but Trustees have been in regular contact with each other on several issues and whilst we have unfortunately bid farewell to Trustees Michael Coulson and Howard Cornwell, we have been delighted to welcome Richard Jackson and Charlie Barlow in their place. Work they are focused on includes submissions to donors for further sport-for-change programmes, work on our Annual Report and Accounts for last year, improvements to the CBH website and developing plans for fundraising events once the current crisis comes to an end.
We also have a lot of recent activity to be proud of. The CBH Carol Service in December brought together a church full of well-wishers and melodious voices and raised well over £3,000 for the charity.
Our founding Trustee, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, has nominated CBH as a charity worthy of the attention of guests and well-wishers at his planned wedding to Princess Beatrice. Two British touring clubs (Carlton Club and Strongroom) made highly successful tours to Rwanda in February playing a total of ten matches against Rwandan opposition at the stadium.
Yorkshire Tea renewed their sponsorship of cricket coaching in schools linked to rural tea estates with an impressive launch of the programme's second year at Pfunda in the North of Rwanda.
How you can help?
We remain absolutely committed to carrying on doing what we can and making plans for the world post-coronavirus. As ever, we are grateful to all our stalwart supporters who continue to follow us. But without the possibility of organising fund-raising events in the coming weeks we are more than ever reliant on the generosity of our donors and friends for their financial help.
The best way of helping us is to become a Friend and make a monthly donation in return for discounted tickets at our events. Click here to find out more.
You can also make a one-off donation to CBH here.
Finally, you can also support us when shopping on Amazon, through Amazon Smile here.