Blackrock College RFC supporting street kids in Mukuru slums, Nairobi. Kenya

Paula Cullen and 3 friends Adrienne Keeley (Wicklow), Catherine Nolan (Carlow) and Irene Plunkett(Castleknock) have spent the last 15 days working at the street boys rehab centre in Mukuru slums.

Among the many things they achieved for the boys during their stay included a day at an animal sanctuary in National Park, an afternoon swimming and a school sports day. However the highlight of their trip had to be the rehab centre competing at a tag rugby tournament in the heart of the Ngong Hills about 2 hours outside Nairobi in the most remote area imaginable . The centre had 3 teams entered, under 14’s Carlow team, under 16 A Blackrock team and the under 16 B Leinster team. The under 14’s won their section and the 2 under16’s got to the final with the B team beating the A team in their group.. it was as good as it gets with huge excitement among the boys who had all played 4 matches each to make the finals.

This could not have happened without the continued support of Blackrock RFC who have generously supplied boys kits over past few years. We were honoured to meet the vice chairman of Kenya Rugby Union, Kombo Mwalimu who had scouts present in the day.. we had another success when one of ‘our boys’ was offered a place at a rugby boarding school about an hour outside Nairobi.

This is a huge achievement for Mukuru Promotion Centre as these homeless street boys hardly knew the shape of a rugby ball 3 years ago.

We continue to look for sponsorship towards the expenses of coaches, hiring of buses and general expenses in running this rugby project.

Thank you to all for your continued support. We ask that players and their families when finished with their gear or their childrens gear that they donate these items where they will be shipped to Nairobi during the summer holidays. We are happy to take both kids and youths gear.

Paula Cullen