The kids came running out. It was awesome - I think they were overwhelmed to have visitors
| Published date | 05 July 2023 |
| Publication title | Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser |
And when the pupils, giddy with excitement, sang and danced to warmly welcome the arrival of 20 Scots, Douglas had to pinch himself.
The Lanarkshire contingent were from Airdrie-based Diamonds in the Community. The organisation, whose foundations were laid by Airdrie Football Club fans, became a charity established by Douglas four years ago.
As well as providing home essentials to women suffering domestic abuse and ex-prisoners reintegrating into society, and pre-owned school uniforms and warm winter jackets to families in need, it is the Scottish hub of KitAid - a charity that recycles once-loved football kits and distributes them to underprivileged children and adults in some of the world's poorest countries.
The men and women who set off from the West End Bar in Airdrie on a spring morning earlier this year and made the 24-hour pilgrimage to Namibia's capital of Windhoek, carried with them in their hearts the values of KitAid - and in their luggage, no fewer than 800 pieces of sports kit, donated by clubs, businesses and individuals the length and breadth of Scotland.
Among them was a medic, and Mongolian Consulate for Scotland David Scott, who had facilitated two previous Diamonds in the Community mercy trips to Mongolia - both of which were recognised in Westminster.
"He usually takes out to Africa wealthy people who have bucket lists and lots of money to spend," explained Douglas, who had, like his travelling companions, selffunded his £2400 ticket to Namibia.
"He really liked the fact that we were just ordinary folk from Airdrie - downto-earth people from a wee town. He liked the people-topeople diplomacy."
Like some of the inhabitants of that "wee town" in North Lanarkshire, the people of Namibia live with the myriad of challenges that accompany poverty: homelessness and poor living conditions, low uptake of cancer screening and period poverty.
After recovering from their journey in a Windhoek hotel, the group were introduced to Konrad Costa Khaiseb - a former footballer who holds the record for the most goals scored in the Namibia Premier League.
The striker left the meeting elated and bearing a collection of donated Airdrie and Albion Rovers football strips.
The following morning, the group - whose members' average age was 58 - boarded two mini buses and set off on...
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