In a war weary nation where half the population is under the age of 18, cricket provides a vital tool for peace.
Afghan Connection, first linked up with the MCC in 2008. At that time, we were looking for ways to promote grassroots cricket and to help the Afghan Cricket team, who were steadily rising through the cricket rankings despite comparatively little support. The MCC became our partners and helped develop a programme to take cricket to all corners of Afghanistan.
£200 provides cricket equipment for one school. Help us get the boys and girls of Afghanistan playing cricket. Donate now...
Cricket Projects
Building Pitches
Since 2008 Afghan Connection has built cricket pitches in 38 schools, used by thousands of children every day.
Wherever we build pitches, we also contribute to vital building and maintenance repairs needed in each school . This includes construction of latrine blocks, wells, new classrooms and walls. In 2012 alone, we built pitches for 16,000 children in 10 schools across 8 provinces.
Our aim is to to build 10 new pitches every year. It costs £2,200 to build a cricket pitch in a school, whilst the repair and development is approximately £4,000 for each school.
Cricket Camps
With our strong shared belief that sport can be used as a tool for hope and peace, Afghan Connection has been working with the MCC and the Afghan Youth Cricket Support Organisation (AYCSO) since 2008 to deliver cricket training camps across the country.
The camps offer rare opportunities for Afghan children to build confidence and sportsmanship. Coaches use the camps to identify talented young Afghan players to join the National Academy.
27 Afghan Connection cricket camps have been held since 2008 in 18 different provinces across Afghanistan. Nearly 2000 girls and boys have attended these camps, including those with disabilities. Donate
For more information download our cricket strategy for 2013-15
Training professional coaches
Professional cricket in Afghanistan is developing fast, with the Afghan Cricket team now ranked 16th in the world. The team and their coaches provide much-needed role models for Afghan children.
The MCC Foundation has funded two level 1 coaching camps to train 44 cricket coaches, 20 of these coaches are teachers at schools where Afghan Connection has built cricket pitches with the MCC. The young men and women who pass their level 1 are the first qualified coaches in Afghanistan.
Each year we will aim to train 24 coaches to reach Coaching Level 1.
Read the diary of one of our trainers at the 2012 Coaching Camp here
View our cricket video