As well as the Academy the Craig Bellamy Foundation also supports and runs a youth football legion across the regions. In order to play in the league teams the kids must attend school, and the foundation pays their school fees. In a country where football is so popular this is a fantastic way of ensuring thousands of children get a decent level of education.
As part of my visit I went out to visit these regions to provide some first aid care awareness to the league staff and volunteers.
Although the purpose for my visit this was probably the most daunting thing about my trip! People I didn’t know, in a country I didn’t know!
The training was provided in two different regions, Makeni and Bo with the league staff coming from various places to attend.
I didn’t need to worry. The league staff are brilliant and very passionate about their roles within the foundation. Whilst some of the answers given to my questions were entertaining the men and women picked things up very quickly and I was extremely impressed. The thing I had to keep trying to remember is that most of the basic things we take for granted, like bandages and ambulances just aren’t available that easily in Sierra Leone. Most of the treatment we’d provide in the UK has be tailored to make it appropriate and accessible out there.
