Maasai Cricket Warriors PO Box 236 Nanyuki – 10400 Laikipia KENYA 5th October 2011 Dear Friends, Re: Request for assistance for the Maasai Cricket Warriors to attend the Legends Cricket Nursery Academy for 2 months It is with great excitement that I announce that the Maasai Cricket Warriors have been offered the opportunity to attend a cricket academy for 2 months. This invitation has been extended to the Maasai Cricket Warriors by the Legends Cricket Nursery who are offering complimentary coaching and training to the Maasai Warriors. The Legends Cricket Nursery is a new cricket academy that was recently started by former Kenyan Cricketers and it is being run by former captains and vice-captain Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo and Jimmy Kamande as well as former international players, Sibtain Kassamali, Bapa Juma Abbas and Zafir Din. Although the coaching and training is being offered complimentary to the Maasai Cricket Warriors by these former International Cricket Stars, we need to raise funds to cover the costs of transportation, accommodation and meals. The expenses for each player for the entire 2-month period amounts to Ksh20,000 with the total for all 10 Maasai Cricket Warriors being Ksh200,000. We currently have a fundraising drive going on to try and raise sufficient funds to send 10 of our up-and-coming Maasai Youths to attend the Legends Cricket Nursery Academy in Mombasa for 2 months. This will afford them the opportunity to improve their skills and cricket knowledge to ensure that they can firstly be more competitive themselves, but also have acquired greater skills to be better coaches themselves within their communities. The following 10 Maasai Cricket Warriors have been selected to attend the Legends Cricket Nursery for 2 months: 1. Bonface Legei Ole Shole 2. Franko Ole Meshami 3. Kilesi Robert Ole Piroris 4. Ltemulai Daniel Ole Mamai 5. Mpaiyan Ole Meshami 6. Nissan Jonathan Ole Meshami 7. Njayo Thomas Ole Meshami 8. Papai Ole Mamai 9. Sonyanga Weblen Ole Ngais 10. Tepele Francis Ole Naimado Through cricket development amongst schools and youth within Maasai communities a platform is built to promote education and as a means of encouraging sustainable social change. This is achieved by focusing on developing personalities, improving life skills and reducing at-risk behaviour by broadening youths’ horizons, bridging social divides, increasing health- related awareness and providing participants with the tools to help them make the right choices when facing social challenges. Key issues that are being addressed include: HIV/AIDS awareness amongst youth, combating gender discrimination, reducing alcohol and substance abuse, raising awareness of environmental and conservation issues amongst youth and children and contributing to peace building efforts and local development. In addition to the Maasai Cricket Warriors being avid cricket enthusiasts with abundant talent they are also role models in their communities where they are actively campaigning against retrogressive and harmful cultural practices such as FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and early childhood marriages and fighting for the rights of women in order to eradicate discrimination against women in Maasailand. Through sports participation they are also promoting healthier lifestyles and spreading awareness about HIV/Aids awareness amongst youth. It would be greatly appreciated if you can embrace and support this initiative and assist the Maasai Cricket Warriors in achieving this dream. Any contribution and assistance that you can offer towards this 2-month programme will be most valuable and it will go a long way in taking the Maasai Warriors a step closer to the cricket academy. Your support will have a great impact in giving children and youth in these communities a sporting chance. Thank you for your support! Kind regards, Aliya Bauer Coach and Co-ordinator Maasai Cricket Warriors Tel: +254 723 462 373 E-mail: [email protected] .