Kit Share Project 2024 - Trip to Bangladesh

Hi, my name is Sam. I am a 16 year old who loves football and my team, Watford FC. Currently I am doing a BTEC in Sports Science and Coaching at Arsenal football club and really enjoy it. My dream is to become a football manager and for me to start off on a path like this, I feel very grateful.

I am fundraising for a trip to Bangladesh with Kit Share Project (https://kitshareproject.com) in May/June 2024. Kit Share Project is important to me because I realise how fortunate I am to have new football kits, boots and equipment but for me to properly understand how lucky I am I want to learn what it's like from less fortunate people, who don't play football with the best boots or the best ball, they play for the love of the beautiful game. I think this experience would open my eyes to appreciate all the stuff I have while also being able to help and provide support to those not as fortunate.

The Kit Share Project exists to tackle the challenges and make the game more accessible for remote communities in the region of Moulvibazar, Sylhet; families, neighbourhoods, local sports groups, schools. Last year when setting our fundraising targets, we thought about the challenges the KSP faces. We thought about the costs of storing donations, sending ourselves away for 10 days, and shipping the 200kg+ of packages overseas and across Bangladesh. This year it’s more days and more kilos. Those are the fundamentals, but the mission and its impact doesn’t stop there. With any extra funding, we can buy food for the young people we reach and buy livestock to sustain families.

There is also a bigger goal to transform some land into a hub of play and enrichment; into the heartbeat of the community and beyond. A self-sustaining all weather pitch with stands and facilities in Moulvibazar - a project that will draw crowds from across Sylhet and transform the region. I can't wait to see the progress when we are there. There should be floodlights working (something we take for granted every time we go to a match).

I am massively looking forward to experiencing the culture of Bangladesh and how life is out there. I am also massively looking forward to learning new skills that I can take back home.

After this experience I will be able to take more responsibility for myself, whilst also having more of an understanding into how I see the world which I can take to and use it to be more creative in what I do in the future. I will also be able to talk to people about my experiences on the trip while also being more confident to talk about my mental health.