It’s been over 15 months since John Lynch and I started work on developing out startup business, Climbing Fish. In that time, we have run a full pilot in Bath, UK – and spent a lot of time working out what our business is about. In recent times, our focus has been on who are our customers? What do they look like? What are their needs?

We’re pleased to say, that we’ve come up with a precise definition of our target members. They are Social Actualizers (the ‘z’ is there – because our launch will be in New York, not the UK).

So, “Who are Social Actualizers?”, I hear you ask.

Well, if you have heard of Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs – then you might have an inkling. Sixty years ago, Maslow noted that the basic needs of humans must be met (e.g. food, shelter, warmth, security, sense of belongingness etc.) before a person can achieve self-actualization — the need to be good, to be fully alive and to find meaning in life. Research shows that when people live their lives that are different from their true nature and capabilities, they are less likely to be happy than those whose goals and lives match. For example, someone who has inherent potential to be a great artist or teacher may never realize his/her talents if their energy is focused on attaining the basic needs of humans.

Fast forward to today, and we think you are starting to see a different sort of person. People who care more about the world than themselves, who want to make social change. Who want to bring people along with them to make change. This is who we are calling Social Actualizers. They are at the top of the pyramid – but want to give others a hand up.

Would love to say that the term Social Actualization was first used by us – but that honour goes to Chip Conley in a Huffington Post article at the end of last year.

We’re looking for these folk in New York for our May launch. Are you one? Please email me at phil@climbingfish.com – would love to chat with you to help refine our service before we launch.

I’m just coming to the end of my 2 month stay in New York City. It’s been a great place to explore the theory behind my startup business, Climbing Fish. I’m even more convinced that it’s quality connections and conversations that help people to do great things (and for some reason we have stopped doing both). We’re now planning a spring launch of the service in the Big Apple.

As I pack my bag, I’ve added to the weight by a few books collected. Prized is Seth Godin’s book (personally signed) “The Icarus Deception” – still not fully read! Others have been read – and others consumed via my friend’s excellent startup audio book service, Bardowl. This morning I had a long conversation with my Climbing Fish co-founder about the value of reading self-books. We are both cynical about how much benefit they give – especially compared to conversations – but we both, like flies to the light, get drawn in! Also, we discussed whether we give academic, well researched, structured writing too much time – and whether it freezes us into inaction. Discuss?

On my last night in Manhattan, I had a very swanky invitation to the Upper West Side to the home of Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz. Not my usual circle. My friend – Mrs Moneypenny (the Financial Times columnist) – was speaking to a group called “Sunday at Six”. The soiree is run by another Brit – Phyllis Roome – and is an invite only event dedicated to getting people together in real conversations (very Climbing Fish!).

Mrs M gave a great performance – in between drinks and a very nice supper. She was launching the paperback version of her book “Career Advice for Ambitious Women” (which is just out in the US). She’s not just a columnist – but makes her living as a headhunter … mixed with stand up performances in Edinburgh Fringe and off-Broadway. Very entertaining – and as you can see from the picture Joseph was very relaxed with her conversation.

I’d done my usual Google research on Joe. His resume is incredible. He is a Nobel laureate in economics, a professor at Columbia and a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist for the World Bank, is the author of “The Price of Inequality.”. In the last week, he’d written an excellent piece for the New York Times – “Inequality Is Holding Back the Recovery” – that gave an overview of how he felt the US would only get economic recovery through dealing with inequality. In the article, he advised President Obama to focus on clearing up inequality – especially the shocking child poverty in the country.

I looked at some of the UN stats in this area – and the US record on child poverty is horrific. Joe’s article had over 700 comments. His argument was very strong. He was right, but what could I do?

As I left the party I had the chance to shake hands and chat briefly to Joe. I asked the question that had been fixed in my mind since reading the article. “When I walk out of here today – what can I – as an individual – do to reduce inequality?”. Joe looked a little stumped, then thoughtful and answered: “Two things – work at it through politics and as an employer make sure you pay people properly (including taxes).”

I was a bit disappointed – he might have seen it in my face. No time to discuss further. What had I expected? Maybe a “tie a yellow ribbon” moment – something that millions of people could do as individuals today (without reading more books, articles, political lobbying – or waiting for someone else).

It convinced me that we’re on the right track with individual action to solve solutions – by maybe less reading and more conversation…. leading to REAL action.

By the way – anyone out there with some suggestions on what each of us can do today to solve inequality? I am fairly certain that none of my readers are Nobel Laureates … but I bet you that between us “simple souls” we could could up with something? Suggestions please…

I am spending my time in New York trying to test “off-line” whether the principles behind our startup business, Climbing Fish, hold water. The key elements are seeing whether people “get” the concept, where the target audience hang out, whether there is an over saturation of connections in this age of social media – and whether getting back to good old conversations is as important as we think.

Last week, John (my Climbing Fish co-founder) forwarded me an article in Harvard Business Review by Anthony K Tjan called “It’s time for a ‘Slow Conversation’ Movement”. Please do take the time to read the article – as it hits at the core of what we are trying to do with Climbing Fish. Connections are cheap – but what’s happened to those valuable conversations. Anthony expresses it eloquently. Here’s one quote that gives a flavour:-

as we begin 2013, I can’t help feeling that the proliferation of new communication channels and “smart” devices has only further fragmented and strained the flow of real conversations. It has obscured content that is worth consuming. As multi-tasking has morphed into multi-casting — that is, it is now often less about trying to do more at the same time than trying to tell more at the same time — it has all increasingly gotten in the way of what we are trying to optimize, which is connectivity. In fact, it is quite clear that in many instances it has diluted the quality and relevance of our conversations.

I read through the comments – and was struck by one in particular from Sarah V. She said:-

I love this piece! As someone whose formative years have been greatly influenced by advancements in technology (born in ’85!), I sometimes find myself balking when it’s time for meaningful face-to-face conversation, despite knowing full well that it is important and effective.

It’s not that I don’t want to speak with my friends, colleagues, clients, etc. while looking them in the eye – frankly, even phone is difficult for me sometimes – but it’s that my generation has been conditioned otherwise. It’s so easy for me to socialize face-to-face when it’s all fluff and fun, but when it’s time to have a serious conversation – whether it’s personal or work-related – nerves kick in. Perhaps because it’s too real-time, too unpredictable, too uncontrolled.

I was intrigued that someone who was 27, obviously entrepreneurial, felt that a generation had been conditioned not to have conversations. I took time to follow the link to Sarah V – and discovered that she lived in New York. Now there’s a coincidence…. Maybe we could meet and I could ask more…

Sarah (V stands for Vaynerman) was – as she said in the comment – very good on Twitter and email. She agreed to meet at my co-working space at NYC Alley. What would the conversation be like….?

It was great. Sarah is young, lively – and a very focussed entrepreneur. She ditched her job on Wall Street to run her own venture – EsVeeGroup. She explained the conditioning…

When she was in 6th grade in the mid-90s, her mum (who was quite techy) showed her the Netscape Navigator browser. Sarah got hooked on surfing the internet. As time moved on a little, AOL suddenly became the think to join up to and her teenage years were spent communicating with her friends on AOL Instant Messenger. In late teens, the cellphone arrived – and texting each other was the thing. Now, Sarah says that she feels very comfortable with technology – and is used to the ability to use short form written communication to consider and compose a response to in her own time (usually very quickly). She feels in control in this way.

Sarah is concerned on the subject – especially how our brains become re-wired with technology. She pointed me to a New York Times article in 2010 – Attached to Technology and Paying the Price – that talks about technology giving you a “dopamine squirt”. Can a “Slow Conversation” compete with that?

Sarah and I had a great conversation – her brain has not been totally rewired! I shared the vision for Climbing Fish withher. At which point, Sarah’s face went blank… She then reached for her iPad (I thought, here goes … she HAS been re-wired). She’d not gone mad – she totally got what we are doing. She just wanted to share a set of notes she had made last year about a business idea… It sounded remarkably like Climbing Fish… Here are some of the gems:-

“Networking events are so tiring and like shooting fish in a barrel no one really likes it”

“Referral/invitation only? (100% at first)”

“If you do not participate you aren’t in. Can you be “voted off the island?”"

“You only want to be talking to the people that have GENUINE interest in you, support for your success and what you’re doing”

“Not anyone can change the world but everyone can change THEIR world.”

She’d seemed to have been listening in to John and my conversations….

Even more spooky – when we exchanged business cards… SNAP. We both had Einstein Quotes on the back of our cards! Surreal…

We’ve agreed to keep our conversation going. It’s always interesting when you feel stars align.

I headed off for a bowl of soup at the local coffee shop (The Cafe Grind on 10th Avenue – thoroughly recommended). As I came out – I noticed their A-board. Einstein again … maybe he’s trying to send us a message about Climbing Fish!

During our conversations about Climbing Fish (the start up I am working on with John Lynch) – a friend used the phrase “mild rage”. Somehow it’s stuck – and become a term we use when we describe how people feel when they are not using their genius.

We’re currently using it prominently on our holding page for Climbing Fish. We even have a definition:-

mild rage (noun)

(I) When you’re not living faithfully to your Genius, you find yourself feeling incomplete. (II) You may have found that it’s easier to fill the roles your family and friends expect of you, rather than becoming who you really want to be. (III) Living this way drains you of the energy you need to pursue the things you truly value, what remains is mild rage.

It’s been a contentious phrase – some on our mini-board feel it has a negative sentiment that should not be used in our marketing. However, John and I have stuck with it. In fact, we’ve been floating it around a little more (especially during our time in New York) and we’ve had some really positive feedback.

so many people struggle in what you call “mild rage”. I totally understand that!

Tonight is John’s last night in New York – so we went and had a few beers and supper. We then stumbled upon the National Comedy Theater. It’s described as New York’s home for improv comedy. It certainly was that – lots of improv in the style of “Whose Line is it Anyway”. Lots of audience participation – and I couldn’t resist when the crowd was asked for an emotion to be acted out on stage shouting out “Mild Rage”.

It got a laugh from the audience and cast – and was used a few more times during the evening. So – “Mild Rage” made its world premiere on the stage in New York (off Broadway). Thanks to the Cast of the National Comedy Theater – especially the “Staten Island Faires” team who enacted it so well. I have to say, it was a bit of a hit… so will continue to be in the Climbing Fish “script” for a while longer…

I love the power of connection. Opening up to people and engaging in conversation just seems to spring connections and opportunities.

Last week, I went to a Meetup with the folks from Conversations New York. Two of the members were kind enough to invite me (and my co-founder of Climbing Fish, John Lynch) along to a couple of events in the city.

Michele Fulves invited us uptown to an early evening session of the Red Harlem Readers. The event is in the Indian Cafe, just below Harlem on the West side. It’s a lovely venue – enhanced by a glass box onto a New York street. There’s lots of interaction with passers by – and the taxi cabs race past. Stella Pulo did a reading from her book “Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage – Travel Tales from an Aussie Actress on the Run.” It was an engaging event – I like colourful storytellers .. and Stella is certainly that.

Last night, Elizabeth Cohn (also from the CNY Meetup) invited us over to Brooklyn to The Moth SLAM event. When we arrive there were queues up the block. Luckily Liz was on the VIP list with some pre-booked tickets – so we managed to dodge all the queues. The Moth concept is very popular – and a big hit on National Public Radio (NPR). People put themselves forward to be picked to get on stage and tell a tale. They each have 5 minutes to tell a real life story. Compere Peter Aguero was great fun – although he did pick on me a few times as I was on the front row snapping with my camera (quietly, no flash … but still he picked on me!). The Bell House is a great venue.

My favourite story of the night (but sadly not the winner) was by Adam Fawer. Adam explained that he had gradually gone blind when he was young (still retains some vision). Writing had been a release for him – and although he followed a “normal” career, he’d at one point taken a break to pursue his love of writing. His book was taken up by a major publisher, got great reviews – and combined his love of thrillers and maths by being based on the probabilty theory (book title “Improbable”). Sadly, book sales did not mirror the great reviews – although it did get translated and published in 18 countries. He created a second book – but it was only taken up in a Turkey, Germany and Japan (where sales had been reasonable). Adam had to go back to work in the real world….

He did start getting pestered by the Turkish book publisher to visit Turkey. He ignored this – as he needed to focus back on his career. The guy kept on pestering. Finally, Adam got a call from the US State Department saying that he should go to Turkey to help with their promotion of the USA. He looked up how his books performed in Turkey – and the two books were both in the Top Ten Best Sellers – ahead of the likes of JK Rowling and Stephen King!. He did the tour – and I’ve since seen the Youtube video to prove his popularity (there was a bigger queue than the whole of the audience at last night’s gig!).

As I now have a reputation for having pictures taken with famous authors (Seth Godin last week – Adam Fawer this week) – I got a snap with him at the bar after the event. He’s definitely a Climbing Fish candidate.

Finally – a big thank you to Liz for this invite. Inspiring Event… Liz has become a big fan of Climbing Fish – and shared with me a short story she has framed on her wall at home. It’s very Climbing Fish….

A Fable for Animals

Once upon a time the animals had a school. The curriculum consisted of running, climbing, flying and swimming, and all the animals took all the subjects.
The duck was good in swimming, better in fact than his instructor, and he made passing grades in flying, but he was practically hopeless in running. Because he was so low in this subject he was made to stay in after school and drop his swimming class in order to practice running. He kept this up until he was only average in swimming. But average is acceptable, so nobody worried except the duck.
The rabbit started out at the top of the class in running, but he had a nervous breakdown and had to drop out of school on account of so much makeup work in swimming.
The squirrel lead the climbing class, but his flying teacher made him start his flying lesson from the ground up instead from the top of the tree down. He developed charley horses from over-exertion at the takeoff and began getting C’s in climbing and D’s in running.
The practical prairie dogs apprenticed their offspring to a badger when the school authorities refused to add digging to the curriculum.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim fairly well, climb and fly a little was made valedictorian.

–Author Unknown.

P.S. On the Subway ride home from Brooklyn at 1am in the morning, couldn’t resist snapping these young people who had met on the train. The couple on the left were engaging in deep conversation with the young Swiss guy on the right. Conversation New York is alive everywhere in the city….

I’m enjoying using Meetup while in New York. There’s a constant flow of opportunities to find interesting people at events large and small in Manhattan. The alerts come through regularly during the day – and I am always surprised at the wide range of interests. I suppose that’s the beauty of living in a big city.

At the end of the week I was alerted to a group called “Conversations New York” via Meetup. While I’ve been in New York I’ve been researching what part conversations play in greasing the wheels of my start up business,Climbing Fish. I’ve been reading a book called “World Cafe – Shaping our Futures through Conversations that Matter”. The process outlined in the book is tried and tested on groups – and is an inspired way of getting conversations going. I’m working out how to apply this to the one-to-one connections that Climbing Fish intends to make. We’ve drafted in the thinking of the test group from Bath that tried out the Climbing Fish pilot this autumn – all who did our survey have been given a copy of the book.

I went along to the Conversations New York session at Penn Station (in a table at the back of TGI Fridays). It was a diverse group (as would be expected from the melting pot of New York) – all committed to getting the art of conversation going in New York. They have a lovely statement that outlines their aims:-

 

IMAGINE… 

Hundreds of New Yorkers coming together in small groups of neighbors

and fellow citizens to discuss topics of intensive interest…

Hosted at no cost and at convenient locations and times…

Aided by simple guiding principles…

Inspired by the city’s grand tradition of robust conversation…

Our vision is to inspire, organize, publicize, facilitate and celebrate

a renaissance of healthy dialogue in New York City

 

At that small table were people dedicated to Socratic Learning, getting fellowship for seniors in the population through conversation, diversifying the conversations of blind people from just always talking about fund raising, simply getting people to “Talk to me”, encouraging the immigrant population of the Upper West Side to start conversations again in the Hungarian Pastry Shops and generally stop technology separating us.

I’m hoping that in my time in New York to help the group with its aims. They are already excellent catalysts for the conversations of New York. On their site – there is a calendar of monthly events, and they track the activities of over 50 groups creating conversations in New York. If you are in New York – please take a look at the calendar and join the conversation!

As I said in my last post “I’d like to help you explore through conversations with strangers your undiscovered genius, maybe add fire to your “mild rage” or give you a whole new perspective. I believe this could change you, the people you meet and maybe the world for better – and help us all rediscover our art!” These guys are doing a great job at this.

The group is truly committed to open, diverse conversations. Ron Gross, the inspiring Chairman of the group, expressed it well: “We work hard at making sure conversations are open to all – we know how easy it is for birds of a feather to flock together. We need different perspectives.”

Watch this space for more words and pictures on the Conversations of New York…

I’m in New York for a couple of months, working on a combination of business and personal projects.  I’m loving the experience…..

The year started with a chance to see one of my favourite authors, Seth Godin, speak about his new book “The Icarus Deception”.  The Video below gives you a nice flavour of what the books (and the overall project) is about.

At Seth’s talk at the Haft Auditorium in Manhattan, his focus was on how people needed to find their art. It’s a continued theme in Seth’s writing to not conform, not be a cog in the machine, be unique, be a linchpin. He talked passionately about the “Power of Connection”. That the “More we connect – the “richer” we get!”. This resonates so much with the work I am doing with Climbing Fish – my new venture with John Lynch.

Seth also talked about the new “Connection Economy” and how it is created by the generosity of individuals mixed with their art.

It was a great couple of hours – and I got to shake hands with the great man (smaller than me – but we share the same hairdresser!)

In the evening, I attended one of Seth’s Icarus session in New York via Meetup. The room at NYC Alley (by coincidence my new co-working space for the next month) was filled with Seth Fans who did an individual pitch of their “art” for 140 Seconds. Mine is below…. Thanks Seth for making me stand up and share my art….

Good evening – My name is Phil O’Brien. As you can tell from my accent, I am an Englishman living in New York for a while.

My art is connecting people. I like to help connect the dots of people’s lives. It gives me energy – it’s my passion. I love listening to people, strangers. Trying to find something of their essence – and then connecting them to someone I know, or another stranger that I meet, a person who has a fresh perspective that will help each of them to grow.

I’m working on a project called Climbing Fish. The name comes from the Einstein quote: “Everyone is a Genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.”

I’m trying to develop and refine my “off-line” connecting art – and see if there is any way to take what I’ve learnt to accelerate connections on-line. I believe that conversations with strangers help people discover new paths, rewire their thinking, help their quest to rediscover genius. Sadly we’ve lost the appetite for serendipitous conversations in this time managed, too many meetings, over connected world.

I’d love to chat with any of you strangers/you geniuses – let me buy you a coffee or a beer.

I want to help you cast off your LinkedIn “game face”, your CV, your resume. Leave behind for a little while your Family/Facebook/Friends who often don’t want you to rock your boat – or indeed theirs.

I’d like to help you explore through conversations with strangers your undiscovered genius, maybe add fire to your “mild rage” or give you a whole new perspective. I believe this could change you, the people you meet and maybe the world for better – and help us all rediscover our art!

Let me see if I can help connect some dots for you. I’d appreciate you helping me to become a better connector – and to practice my art.

Please do come and say hi – or email me at phil@climbingfish.com. And if you are the cautious type and you want to learn more about me – please go to philobrien.com. Thank you

I was recently asked to give a talk to a group of small business owners and entrepreneurs on the subject of mentoring. As anyone who has been asked to give a talk will know – the preparation is usually started with a quick session on Google. So here were my results….

I found a good definition – “Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.”. Quite inspiring…

I also found out via Wikipedia that Mentor was a person in Greek mythology – and I found another definition “someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with less experienced colleagues. It also brought back to me the word “protégé” – which seems to have slipped from common use. This is someone who is being mentored (a mentee in common speak these days).

I have been lucky enough to have had some brilliant mentors in my journey firstly as a photographer and then as an entrepreneur. Latterly, I have also taken on this role for other people – including an aristocrat, a professional sportsman and a property developer.

These days, increasingly there is access to professional mentors/psychologists/life coaches – and I think they serve a purpose. However, at its purest the relationship of a mentor/mentee is a partnership. There has to be a chemistry – a meeting of energies that motivate both sides to really work. It’s not a pure paternal relationship (although age difference might make it feel that way) – both sides have to gain.

I love the quote (although I cannot find the source) that “people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.” A mentoring relationship can be any of these. Certainly I have experienced all the versions.

For example, in the 90s, my business changed when the Getty family and Bill Gates moved in to the “cottage industry” of the photography world. I have two mentors who helped me through. You can read more about that experience here – but in essence I had a mentor, Chad Murrin of 3i, who introduced me to the world of corporate finance and venture capital (he remains a friend today). At the same time, I had a short term mentor in the form of Tom Kirby of Games Workshop – he helped me understand strategy (which drives all my thinking today). Both had an illuminating effect on my life for reasons, seasons and lifetimes.

Since the sale of my business, I have tried to use my experience to help others. I have found the relationships two-way. I believe I have managed to learn more, find different views and hone some of my skills – while sharing my experience. I am very clear on what I can offer to people. It’s a passion to get individuals to lift their heads from their daily grind and consciously decide where they are going. This is coupled with my desire to get people to look around and find solutions away from the narrow path they often tread. “Head up – mind open” is always my mentoring message.

Going back to the original definition I found – we all have a drive to “become the person we want to be.” I believe that you cannot do this by sitting on your own reading self-help books and making plans. John Lennon had it right “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” You need to get out and live life – and that means meeting people. You will know when the chemistry is right and you have met someone that you can be a mentor to – or ask to be mentored by. Avoid the professional life coaches, unless you have a very specific issue to deal with – get out and meet a mentor today! Two final quotes (you can tell that I love them).

“You are the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things, the books you read and the people you meet.” ~ Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

“…often it is strangers who help us make sense of where we are going and who we will become.” ~ Herminia Ibarra “Working Identity”

I love Wow projects – and am always happy to chat over a coffee in Bath. I’m currently working as co-founder of a startup business Climbing Fish (inspired, of course, by a quote “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” ~ Albert Einstein

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE CRICKET WITHOUT BOUNDARIES UGANDA SPRING 2012 BLOG

If there is one over-riding impression of Uganda – it is the commitment of school children to their education. They literally walk miles to and from school – and during the Cricket Without Boundaries project we have witnessed their thirst for learning.

Before one of our afternoon sessions at Kilembe, I took the opportunity to walk up one of the mountains above the playing field. My first stop was about 100 feet above the field – which gave an excellent view. I sat for a while waiting for the next batch of children to arrive – and met a young lad called Baluku Bright (who had attended the impromptu Sunday training).

He had spotted me from down on the field – and had run up to find me. He wanted to show me his home, which he said was “just above where I was sitting”.

His idea of “just above” and mine differ slightly. I registered the climb on my iPhone’s altimeter – and we climbed a further 500 feet. He went up like a mountain goat – and I was rather out of breathe (he carried my bag for the last 200 feet!). Please watch the video of Baluku showing me the spectacular views from his family’s home.

You can see where his home is in relation to our cricket training on the picture below. It was an experience….

…. and just to prove the height – this is the view of the ground as I was halfway down the mountain!

We also had a small primary school group from Pride Academy Kisinga. They had travelled 35 kilometres from their school – and hired a vehicle to fit 10 people – 4 teachers and 6 pupils. The distance and transport difficulties meant that they each had to find accommodation in local homes of teachers and family, so that they could attend the second day of coaching.

I was really pleased to be able to present to them for their efforts the cricket kit donated by the girls of Lincoln House at Oakham School. This was complemented by balls and t-shirts from Cricket Without Boundaries. The school were delighted – and are ready to take the game of cricket to all the other pupils and teachers.

Highlight of the day was our journey back from Kilembe to Kasese. We couldn’t let the children from the Pride Academy walk all the way back to Kisinga – so we packed them in to our bus! The thanked us by singing a beautiful song “I am a teacher/driver/cricketer because of education”. Listen to the lovely voices in the video below….

I’m off to Africa! I’m travelling as a volunteer for the charity Cricket without Boundaries (quite similar to the charity I founded/chair in the UK – Belvoir Castle Cricket Trust). I’m not sure that Uganda’s children are ready for my very limited cricketing skills – but I hope I can help.

The last time I was in Africa was nearly 20 years ago. I travelled with the Manchester United team as a sports photographer. I photographed the players in Soweto and meeting with Nelson Mandela. Looking through the photos I took – it’s quite a coincidence that Ryan & Nelson are in the headlines this week.

I am looking forward to going back – and this time helping (as well as recording with my camera).

Cricket without Boundaries (CWB) started in 2005, when the three founders went from Egypt to South Africa coaching cricket as they travelled. CWB has become one of the world’s leading cricket development and AIDS awareness charity – and now works with the ThinkWise project (which includes the likes of the ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI). It is dedicated to helping education and development in local communities around the world through the spread and growth of cricket. The charity works to spread cricket through coaching children and teaching adults how to coach and link the sport to HIV/AIDS awareness incorporating these messages into coaching sessions.

We are a group of 10 – with 6 of the volunteers coming from Belvoir Castle Cricket Trust. They include our Trust Director, Darren Bicknell (ex-Nottinghamshire and Surrey), some parents whose children have benefitted from BCCT’s work in the Vale and a couple of our volunteer coaches. It’s very special that the work that we started in the rural Vale of Belvoir will be extended to the villages and schools of Uganda.

You can follow our progress over the next 3 weeks on the CWB Uganda 2012 blog. I will be writing a diary and uploading pictures daily (starting from our arrival on Monday).

If you want to help the work that CWB is doing, please contribute to the project’s Just Giving page.