Teams unite against Aids

Following their opening group game match on Wednesday, members of the Kenya and Canada teams took time out to visit the Boys Training Centre in Gros Islet, St Lucia.

The visit to the centre, which provides assistance to young people, some of whom may have been abused or abandoned, was the latest visit to take place as part of the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF.

With the children acting as their tour guides, the six cricketers - Steve Tikolo, Peter Ongondo, Maurice Ouma and Tanmay Mishra from the Kenyan team and Kevin Sandher and Umar Bhatti from the Canadian team - all took the opportunity to view the carpentry, woodwork, mechanics, and agricultural talents of the boys who range between 14 to 16 years.

"It's great that they are here," said Elton Jan, who beamed with pride as he showed the cricketers the work he was doing on the farm. " I am so happy that they came to see my work," added Elton, who has been at the centre for almost 18 months.

"If you want to succeed in life, you should always focus on the three D's - Discipline, Determination and Dedication," Steve Tikolo, Captain of the Kenyan team told the children, who listened attentively as he as he spoke to them following a very interactive game of cricket which the cricketers of both teams played with the boys for almost an hour.

"The rules for succeeding in cricket and sports are very much the same for succeeding in life," he reminded the children.

Spin bowler for the Canadian team Kevin Sandher was very pleased with his visit.

"It is good what they are doing here at the centre", he said. ' Here they are not just sitting in a classroom learning academics, but they are also learning skills which they can use to contribute to society when they leave."

"It was a very humbling experience for me," said Maurice Ouma the wicketkeeper of the Kenyan cricket team. " Often we tend to take things for granted - especially if we have had a bad day at cricket - and we don't realize there are others have been through worse experiences."

Health Education Specialist for the UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Elaine King, noted that often many people do not make the link between risk factors for HIV and other vulnerabilities. Further that when children have low self esteem and poor self image, it affects their decision making, negotiating skills and how they deal with peer pressure on issues concerning their sexuality, as well as other social issues such as violence, drugs among others.

She further added that it was clear from the overwhelming response from the children to the cricketers and the pride with which they demonstrated about their work, that the visit has definitely boosted their self esteem and will encourage them to strive to reach their full potential.

The Boys' Training centre was opened for children in need of care and protection. UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has been supporting this effort accordingly.

Following the visit, one member of the Kenyan team has volunteered to send a number of text books to the Training centre, upon his return to Kenya.