New Bursary – coaching cricket with young refugees in Lebanon

teamArchie is delighted to announce that, in partnership with the Alsama Project in Lebanon and Youth Sport Trust International, we are offering two sports coaching bursaries for young people (aged 18 years+) to develop their cricket coaching skills and support young refugees living in camps in Beirut.

We are hugely grateful to Charlie Dawson and Ruaraidh MacLeod whose incredible personal and fundraising efforts at the London Marathon in April raised nearly £10,000 for this project. You can still donate to their page on JustGiving:

https://justgiving.com/fundraising/Charlie-ruar1

As Charlie says:

“Whilst we have had all the benefits of a happy, healthy and safe upbringing, the same cannot be said of the children of the refugee camps in Lebanon – a childhood that has been fraught with danger and despair.

However, despite this difference, there is one thing that we very much share – the love of a soft crack of leather on willow, and the weird yet wonderful game that is cricket. TeamArchie was set up in memory of Archie Lloyd, who, like us, shared this same love of sport and the camaraderie that comes with it. Archie and Charlie spent many hours together at the crease (or so they like to think) and in the field, and the idea of raising money to allow these children to have similar experiences despite the challenges they have faced is very powerful.”

Alsama means ‘sky’ in Arabic.  Established in January 2020, the Alsama Project is an NGO based in Lebanon which educates refugee children and empowers refugee women. www.alsamaproject.com

Few refugee children have had access to any education, most are illiterate and are forced into work or marriage at a young age.  Cricket is offered to children alongside studies in Arabic, English and Maths to develop leadership skills and physical and mental strength.  It is also fun!  The founder Richard Verity describes children arriving for cricket sessions as like horses let out into a field. https://alsamaproject.com/alsama-cricket/

teamArchie wants to help Alsama recruit enthusiastic and skilled volunteer coaches to work with children in the Lebanon.  We will work with Youth Sport Trust International to promote the opportunity amongst young people taking part in coaching at grass roots level through the YST and through access programmes such as ACE, Chance to Shine, the MCC Foundation, Lords Taverners Wicketz and through Country Cricket Boards.  Following a process involving YSTI, teamArchie, and Alsama; 2 young people will be selected for training by YSTI in coaching, safeguarding and work abroad with any additional cricket training from ECB.  The aim is for them to travel to the Lebanon in January 2024 where they will work for 3 months under the support and guidance of Alsama. We also hope that teamArchie ambassador Nick Gubbins will also be able to travel to Lebanon himself.

If you or anyone you know is passionate about cricket, coaching and helping young refugees, we look forward to hearing from you.

Applications are now open until 31st August and interviews are scheduled for Friday 15th September. You can find more information and the application form below or just email us info@teamarchie.org