SPORTS student James Massheder is on his way to Africa to volunteer with national charity Cricket Without Boundaries.

The 20-year-old former Tong High School pupil flew out this week with four other students on his sports coaching course at Leeds Trinity University.

James, who lives in Swain House, will be taking part in a special project showing African teachers how to teach youngsters cricket and at the same time raise awareness of HIV and Aids in Rwanda.

About 60 per cent of the population in Rwanda lives in poverty and about three per cent of its 15 to 49-year-olds have HIV. It is more common in urban areas than in the countryside, according to health experts. Young women aged 15 to 24 are also twice as likely to be infected with HIV as young men their age.

James will be in Rwanda until June 12, also using the trip abroad to work towards getting academic credits for his Primary PE and Sports Coaching course.

Part of the project will include him and his co-volunteers visiting local schools to teach cricket to children.

On the final day of the project, all the schools will join together for a festival showcasing their new cricket skills.

James said: “Volunteering in Rwanda will not only develop my coaching skills, but teach me how to adapt to different situations and environments, and encourage me to spend time with different people. It will be a huge benefit to my future coaching and teaching career and I’m really looking forward to the trip as a whole.”

The group of students will be joined by other Cricket Without Boundaries volunteers to provide a good mix of qualified coaches and non-coaches.

Nina Fryer, a senior lecturer in Health and Wellbeing at Leeds Trinity University, will also be on the trip as the students’ mentor.

She said: “Nearly 15 years ago, I became interested in health development in developing countries while studying for my Masters in Public Health, and I’m delighted to part of a team and organisation like Cricket Without Boundaries, that are putting these principles into action. I’m really excited and proud to be part of this project.”

The trip comes during the students’ second year compulsory professional work placement. They have raised more than £700 each to take part, to cover costs and pay for sports equipment to be left with schools in Africa. Follow James’s journey at cwbblogs.com/rwanda17.