Sporting Students Prepare for African Expedition

5 April 2007

Students from BU and Leeds are preparing to embark on a sporting expedition to Africa.

Working in conjunction with Camps International, BU's Sports Development Unit will lead the group of 12 specially-selected students to the Mukurumuji Camp in August and September.

The Camp is based in a secluded region of the Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kenya.

Once there, the students on Camp Kenya SDX (Sports Development Expedition) will be split amongst local schools, coaching and teaching children, as well as building and improving sports facilities in the region.

The month-long project will culminate with an inter-school football festival with student-coached and trained teams competing against each other.

The students will meet at the end of April for a special training camp to help them prepare for the expedition.

The camp will include lessons in Swahili to help the students improve their ability to communicate whilst in Kenya.

"This is a truly unique opportunity for students to experience grass roots sports development in a country from the developing world," said SDX team leader Barry Squires, BU’s Sports Development Manager.

"The trip is all about sharing and enhancing the lives of others less fortunate, whilst using sport as a vehicle for making this happen."

A series of awareness events and fund-raising activities are planned to support the Camp Kenya Trust, including a special evening with Ryder Cup golf legend Bernard Gallacher on Monday 23 April.

Further information about Camp Kenya SDX is available from Barry Squires, Sports Development Manager at BU - please email bsquires@bournemouth.ac.uk or telephone (01202) 965789.