PICTURES!!

Beyond Soccer Clinics.....Week 2

We expanded the irrigation project in the vegetable garden. The size of the garden tripled and the irrigation system was enhanced. The drip tapes were replaced and/or installed and a solar powered pump is now delivering water to the irrigation tank.  The 1000L tank had been filled by hand until now, amazing!

VBS went really well and we had over 100 kids learning about how God changes lives. It was exciting to see them wearing the crowns we had made on Monday throughout the rest of the time we were there.

We met the Regional Tribal Head of the area who looks after 40,000 people. We got to hear about his plans and the struggles that he faces as Chief. He was impressed about the projects that we brought o the people in his villages and asked for our email adresses so that we could stay in touch!

We are on our way to Lake Malawi tired yet energized for a short retreat to reflect about our time here in Malawi, what went well and what needs to be changed for next year's trip.

We leave here on Sunday for our long flight home.

Matapilla Soccer Clinic

Just a quick update on the second set of soccer clinics we held. The soccer clinics went really well at Matapilla. The young girls were so thrilled to receive the cleats and jerseys for their teams.  Seeing their smiles made the months of preparation and collecting of equipment SO worth it.  They held out their feet for a photo shoot and were proud and grateful for what we brought to them.

Once I return to the States I will be able to share many photos that we took here.

The Women's World Cup has Nothing Over Us!!

The clinic went really well at Khwamba and I am so excited for those scheduled for next week.  The preparation in advance really helped make this a success.

I handed out the uniforms and cleats at Khwamba! The girls were so excited to play in real uniforms. It felt awesome to know that I was the one who was giving them the opportunity to play

Soccer Clinics Fully Up and Running

Yesterday and the day before I ran the soccer clinics. The first day we did passing. It started in a circle with about 5 girls and 5 circles and passing the ball around.  Then we did a keep away drill and one girl would go into the middle of the circle and the rest of the girls would try to kick it around her. If the girl in the middle got it then the person who passed it to her would go in the middle.  This kept everyone busy until we practiced heading the ball. The  girls really liked that and caught on very quickly. At the end we did this cheer to pump them all up!

Yesterday we worked on dribbling the ball. We started off by making four lines (two lines per group). There were about 7 girls in each line.  They would dribble to the other girl opposite them. Then into some relay races dribbling to the cone turning around then dribbling back. Then we lined up and did some heading and more passing. Finished again with a team cheer.

Today I plan to do shooting then letting them play actual games. We will be handling out jerseys and cleats to the players for the games.  The soccer balls that we are leaving at this Center will be handed out as well.

Soccer Clinics Begin

We went to the first feeding center today. I loved it and it was so much fun. The kids are so happy and fun to play with.

We had to make some changes to my plans for the Soccer Clinic but it worked out really well. The girls were SO happy that they could play soccer.

I have a feeling that they don't get the opportunity to play very much, if at all.  When I think back to the planning of what I might contribute during this trip I considered that possibility.  That and my love of the game is what made me decide to run soccer clinics for girls while in Malawi. To see the happiness on the girls faces is better than I could have imagined.

Tomorrow we will continue with the clinics, can't wait!

First Full Day in Malawi

It is mid-afternoon on my first full day in Malawi.  The day started at 6:15 with a cold, actually frigid, shower. There was no power for breakfast which made things kind of slow, but still enjoyable.  We then went to Ministry of Hope, where I am now, and we had a meeting with the staff to discuss our plans while we are here.

I also met with the supervisor of the Matapila feeding center named Joseph.  He is very excited about what I am doing and even said that the girls (22 of them) have already done some practices and made teams. This is very exciting news and I can't wait to get started.

Our van drivers name is Felix and he is so nice, but he speaks no English. Communicating is like playing charades!

For the remainder of the afternoon the men are going supply shopping for the projects we are starting and the women are going to the Crisis Nursery.

More updates to follow.

Beyond Soccer Clinics....

The preparation for my trip has primarily been focused on the collecting of cleats, uniforms, soccer balls and planning the soccer clinics for the girls at the feeding centers.  That is not all we are hoping to accomplish while we are there.  Here is our list of activities that the team will be doing while in Malawi:

We will spend a few days at two rural feeding centers:  Matapila and Khwamba (hundreds of children gather here daily for their meal of porridge and beans).  

While at the feeding centers, we will:

• Expand the drip irrigation system that was piloted last summer - enlarging the plot 3 times what was completed last year
• Install solar panels - this is the 2011 pilot and we hope to have enough power to charge solar lanterns and some local cell phones and adding lights in the center 
• Run soccer clinics for the girls at the Feeding Centers.  Distribute all of the soccer gear we have collected over the last few months.
• Teach dental care and distribute hundreds of toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Run VBS program focusing on how God loves the world, regardless of what country you live in
• Repair thatched roofs for some of the widows

When not at the FC's, we will be spending time at the crisis nursery caring for the babies, attending a local church service and meeting with local folks to understand the culture and community.

Today is the Day

So excited, below is a picture of my dad and me as we are loading the "soccer crates" in to the van. Can't believe this day is finally here.

Excitement abounds as we gathered to head to JFK airport.  All the crates and suitcases are loaded onto the van and the group took pictures before saying goodbye to family and friends.

I will do my best to send updates while in Malawi. With spotty internet service and rolling blackouts it may be challenging sometimes but I am sure I will be able to some of the time.

24 HOURS!!

Finished packing and now to run the last minute errands! I can not believe that in only 24 hours, the almost 2 years of anticipation will all just be starting. The team and myself have all been getting so excited and prepared for this amazing journey. All of the crates with the soccer equipment are at the church cottage currently and will come with us on the plane!

I am so excited to finally go on this trip...but the nerves are starting to kick in. I am going to a third world country where they barely have anything and there are rolling blackouts in the capital. So different from what we have here in the US, but I am ready for a culture shock and escape the Basking Ridge bubble.

The plane ride (a short 15 hours 20 minutes) will definitely cause my nerves to increase but I can't wait till we finally land in South Africa!

Soccer Balls!

These were the hardest things to pack because they are so bulky! We emptied out all of the air, yet they were very hard to pack. We finally decided to get a pump and fully deflate them all, then packed them very tightly together using the vacuum bags! Surprisingly that ended up working.  I was able to pack 30 balls, but hopefully more will fit eventually.

The yellow and black tub are the crates that we are bringing. Everyone has one "crate" that they are bringing in order to bring more things over to help to people of Malawi!  Thanks to the Julie Foudy Foundation's grant, we are able to bring over two additional crates with equipment and uniforms.

Packing up the equipment!

I have finally packed up and vacuum sealed all of the jerseys along with the shorts and socks. In total I have collected over 100 cleats that I am bringing, and also 150 jerseys that were mostly donated from Jersey Knights and Somerset Hills Soccer Club. I have a bag of white uniforms and a bag of red ones, and some black uniforms as well! A whole bunch of socks were also collected and I am bringing them over!

I am so excited to distribute it out to the girls in Malawi! In one week I will be there!!

Can't believe how close it is!!

I went to get my second out of 3 rabies shots yesterday and also went shopping to get clothes for the trip! Its almost a month away and I'm getting so excited :) I have been waiting so long for this and its so soon!

I keep imagining what it is going to be like, but I'm pretty sure I have no real idea of what to expect. I'm going to finalize my soccer clinic plans today and figure out the exact drills that I'm going to run.

Thank you to the kids at Robert Lazer Middle School in Montville NJ

My dad went to the school to pick up uniforms and cleats that were collected by Mrs. Nancy Bostwick's 8th grade advisory class.  He played a short video about Malawi and had a discussion with the group about what our 2011 Malawi Team will be doing while in Malawi.  There were great questions from the kids who were very interested in what life in Malawi is like.  This was one of their service project and they truly got behind the cause and loved helping the orphans of Malawi.  Thank you Montville Middle School!! Awesome job!

Update of Soccer Uniform and Cleat Drive

These are pictures of the cleats that I have collected so far! About 100 pairs of cleats and 80 uniforms along with shin guards and soccer balls :)  Thank you to the Jersey Knights Soccer Club and Mike Knoth for providing more than 50 new soccer jerseys for the kids in Malawi.   My team, Jersey Knights U17 Mystic also donated uniforms, shin guards and other equipment.  Thanks to teammate Courtney's dad, Mr McKiernan for providing cones and other items I can use during the soccer clinics that I am organizing.

Ridge HS Soccer Clinic Collection

My HS held their second annual "Soccer Under the Stars" soccer clinics for K-5 and 6-8 age groups on Friday May 5th.  We had a great turnout and numerous girls attending brought old uniforms and cleats to donate.  We appreciate the local support from our community. 

Jersey Knights Club to Help in Equipment Drive

I am so excited to announce that my Soccer Club, Jersey Knights of North Brunswick is helping to facilitate my Equipment Drive.  We will be collecting cleats, shin guards, and uniforms at this sight until May 15th.   


Please check out link below:


http://www.jerseyknights.com/

Emily Cutler of the Jersey Knights Mystic U17G will be visiting Malawi, Africa this summer. She is sponsoring a gear drive that will ship gently used cleats, shin guards, and old uniforms to Malawi. The gear will be delivered to orphans just outside the capital city. The children love to play soccer in Malawi but don’t have any equipment to play with. We are asking you for donations of any used cleats, shin guards, socks, and uniforms.

There is a collection bin at the Jersey Knights Complex in the main building where you can bring and drop off the equipment. Donations will be collectied through the month of April until Sunday, May 15^th.

Thank you for your support of this project. All donations will be greatly appreciated by many children who don’t have the opportunity to have the equipment that we do.

Any questions, contact Emily at: emilycutler@optonline.net                                            

GOal Setters Soccer

My friend and HS team mate Allison has developed a soccer program for Autistic children.  Yesterday was the first of eight sessions and it was a great time for the kids and volunteers.  

One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

These are some of the kids from one of the feeding centers in Malawi that I will be visiting this summer.  We hope to bring lots of gently used cleats and uniforms that I have been and continue to collect.