Cricket continues to break down boundaries in Negev desert
Towards the end of 2008 a pioneer project was launched by the ICA in conjunction with the UK charity Cricket4Change and Kaye College in Be'er Sheva, to bring Jewish and Bedouin children in the Negev desert together through cricket.
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Last week the project stepped up a gear, with the return visit of Tom Rodwell and Andy Sellins from Cricket4Change, together with two of their coaches, Mikey and Danny.
Together with ICA staff Naor Gudker, George Sheader and Herschel Gutman, and headmaster of a Hura school Hamed Elkiyan, a formidable team was ready to tackle the sweltering desert temperatures and get as many kids involved as possible.
Afik school in Be'er Sheva and the Bedouin town of Hura were the initial destinations. Sessions were held with trainee sports teachers at Kaye College and potential coaches amongst members of the Israel U19 squad.
A visit was made, with the BBC and Reuters who were covering the trip in convoy, to El Awashla, a Bedouin village with no roads, no electricity, no water supplies. Ushered into a tent, welcomed in true Bedouin tradition by the Sheikh, Council Head and other elders, the contingent were treated to bitter coffee, sweet tea, and a meal of chicken and rice served on a large communal plate, and because they were obviously from a far more advanced civilization, they were given spoons.
After an hour of discussing, and translating everything from Duckworth/Lewis to the falling price of goats hide, the school Headmaster rounded up 10 kids, all bare-foot, and within 20 minutes another impromptu game was on.
The final day of the week was when everything that had been planned over many months was supposed to come together. Everything was in place for a perfect day - even the weather, 25 degrees as opposed to 38 degrees the day before. 30 Bedouin kids from Hura, for many making their first ever visit to Be'er Sheva.
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The tournament started at 10:00, with 6 MIXED teams, Bedouin and Jewish kids playing together on the same team, 3 hours later it was all over - but so successful was the event, the morning could change the face of Israeli cricket, and perhaps in some small way even the entire Middle East. Medals and certificates were handed out, emotional speeches were made, and goodbyes were said with promises of "next year in Jerusalem", for bringing cricket to Jewish and Arab children in Jerusalem is already on the agenda.
Before that the ICA has already planned a youth festival on the holiday of Lag B'Omer for the kids to continue their interaction, this time in Tel Aviv.
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