Basecamp Cup Mara Tournament

Taurus Trust Fund Norway, Basecamp and our guests

Background

In 1999 Basecamp (former Dreamcamp) started football training for the staff and for the young boys and girls at Talek Primary school. This was an attempt to offer a spare time activity and to educate young people about drugs, aids-prevention and the importance of keeping your environment clean. Basecamp staff and coaches attended a two days training course on HIV prevention in June 2003, organised by Narok city council. Friendly football games between camps and lodges were arranged throughout the Mara but mostly held at Talek stadium offering a social event for the Talek community.  In 2001, a donation of a trophe from BasecampExplorer Norway A/S resulted in the registration of an offical  cup with the football federation of Kenya (KFF). All camps and lodges in the Mara were invited. Six teams managed to participate in the first tournament. In 2002 a training course for coaches was organised at Basecamp in co-operation with MYSA (Mathare Youth & Sports Association). A growing interest in the cup resulted in eight teams participating 2003.

Aims

• To encourage and offer a sparetime activity for young people in Talek
• To select a Mara All Stars Team to participate in cups on a national level
• To bring camps and lodges in the Mara together
• To increase the awareness on the importance of keeping your environment clean
• To educate young people on HIV prevention

Results

A clean - up programme has been initiated by the youth football team. Every week the youth football team collects tins, plastic bags, bottles and paper around Talek area for recycling at Basecamp waste disposal station. For every kilo collected, they receive money  to be used as funds for field trips, participation in sports activities or cultural events.

The Basecamp Cup Mara Tournament was organised a third time in November / December 2003 with 8 teams participating.  Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) reported the cup on the news.The cup 2003 was won by Kichwa Tembo.

The following teams have participated in and supported the cup: Mara Intrepids, FigTree Camp, Mara Simba Lodge, Governors Camp, Kichwa Tembo, Mara Sopa Lodge, Mara Sarova, Sienna Intrepids, Mara Safari Club and Basecamp.

Sports equipment, balls, players/referee uniforms and shoes have been received by sponsors, mainly our guests.

The way forward

We aim to

• encourage & support the clean-up programme
• register a Mara All Stars Team with the Hospitality and Tourism Sports Organisation
• continue and deepen the co-operation with MYSA (Mathare Youth & Sports Association) to share and learn from their experience how to combine sports, leadership and social training activities