Dannielle in Sri Lanka:

[ February 2008]

The Arabian Gymnastics Club, based in Milton Keynes, has been combining its regular work with aid relief for Sri Lanka which suffered tremendous death and destruction from the Tsunami of 2004.

Seven schools from Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Luton are involved in the Twinning Programme organised by the Adopt Sri Lana organisation and which has set up invaluable links between schools in Sri Lanka and around the world.

Over 10 days, from the 14th to 24th February 2008 Dannielle, a member of Denbigh School’s Year 8 and the youngest of the group, along with her fellow gymnasts Kirsty, Sam & coaches Alan & Donna Armitage volunteered their time to visit Sri Lanka, to teach local children and to pass on much needed resources that had been collected, such as books and other stationery, etc.
 

“TWINS has now shifted its focus away from disaster relief and we now encourage tangible and meaningful links between schools that are based on regular educational, cultural and sporting exchanges between schools. The program is now equipped with a full-time team of skilled local and overseas staff. We now have 6 TWINS Field Officers working with schools spanning the areas between Kalutara and Hambantota”.

http://www.adoptsrilanka.com/

While some of their planned coaching sessions had to be cancelled and rearranged because of violence in the capital, while they were unaware of how unbearable hot the conditions could get, often over 30oC which was so harsh that it stopped two CD players operating, the girls were involved in giving demonstrations and coaching crowds of young children in gymnastics and dance and whose numbers hit a high of 500 on one day of the trip.

So popular were the girls and what they were giving that they were treated like pop stars and mobbed for their autographs.

Sam, Kirsty and Danni really enjoyed teaching and meeting the children, but under estimated the power of the heat. They all hope to return to Sri Lanka in the future.

“Three great gymnasts that not only the club should be proud of but the whole sporting and schooling community of MK”

Alan Armitage (coach)
www.arabiangym.com

Read more about their Sri Lanka adventures click here.

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(Dannielle was the youngest of three on the trip to Sri-Lanka. At 13 years old she is one of the clubs best competitive gymnasts who has helped chalk up many honours and many titles over the years.)