Last week, Shiplake College had the privilege of welcoming a small group of Ukrainian pupils, who travelled from Kyiv to spend a week at the College as part of a truly remarkable cricket tour.
The visit was the result of an inspiring international collaboration led by South African cricket coach Kobus Olivier, who has continued to coach children in Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Working alongside Ukrainian coach and translator Olena Kravchenko, Kobus has introduced cricket to hundreds of young people in Kyiv, offering them not just a new sport but also moments of normality and hope amid extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Reflecting on the journey, Olena spoke movingly about how the tour came to be: 'This is amazing — I never thought this could happen. People asked me how did you get here; I tell them it was people. People who found us, who saw our story or read about us, our ideas, and just got together to build what we have right now. Without them, this tour to the UK wouldn’t be possible.'
On Shiplake’s side, the visit was coordinated by Mr Rossouw, Head of Cricket, who played a central role in helping organise the week’s programme and logistics. He also worked directly with the visiting pupils on the cricket field, leading light coaching sessions tailored to enjoyment, confidence and skill development. Reflecting on the visit, Mr Rossouw said: 'It’s truly remarkable how the College community has come together to support this group of young cricketers. Seeing the difference it makes is inspiring.'
During their stay, Shiplake provided accommodation, transport and a planned programme of activities. The College was also pleased to help sponsor the travel and expenses of two of the visiting children in particular - a brother and sister who formerly lived in Mariupol, lost both parents, and now live with their uncle in Kyiv. The visit was supported by the wider Shiplake community through a non‑school uniform day and a cake and bake sale held earlier in the Spring Term, with funds raised going directly towards helping make the tour possible. These collective efforts demonstrated how small contributions from many can make a meaningful difference.
The programme was designed to balance sport, cultural experiences and necessary rest, recognising that the pupils were not professional athletes and that English was not their first language.
During the week, the group enjoyed:
- Light cricket coaching sessions focused on enjoyment and skills development
- Introductions to hockey, touch rugby, rowing and indoor fitness activities
- A day trip to Arundel Castle
- A bespoke behind‑the‑scenes visit to Reading Football Club
- Two excursions to London, including a visit to the Natural History Museum and guided walks
- Opportunities for downtime, reflection and shared meals
The experience was immersive and inspiring as Ukrainian cricketer, Hilb, reflected: 'We’ve played rugby, cricket and so many new sports. If you try new things, you can extend your view about the world and use it in your life.'
Cricket has no traditional roots in Ukraine, yet through the work of Kobus and Olena it has become an important outlet for children whose daily lives are shaped by air‑raid sirens, disrupted education and shortages of basic services. Training sessions in Kyiv often take place between alerts, with lessons stopped by the need to move to shelters. Despite this, the children play with energy, enthusiasm and joy. Cricket offers them rare moments of total escape - a chance to experience the simple pleasure of play. Together, Kobus and Olena have supported thousands of children in schools and refugee communities, recently helping to open Ukraine’s first dedicated cricket academy. Olena has since become the first Ukrainian to gain internationally recognised coaching certification, alongside continuing her studies in physical education and language teaching.
The week also included a surprise visit from a film crew travelling with the Ukrainian team. The visit came about after film producer Julian Oliver saw Kobus’s regular LinkedIn updates documenting the team’s progress and the realities of coaching during wartime, and reached out to ask if the journey could be filmed.Footage from the UK was captured by a South East–based crew,collaborating with a Ukrainian team documenting life back home for a developing documentary series led by Julian.
Kobus summed up the experience by saying: 'The UK is like the holy grail of cricket. We couldn’t plan properly in Ukraine because, with the war, you never really know what’s going to happen. Coming to Shiplake has been absolutely beyond any expectations we had. I’ve worked at some top schools in Dubai and South Africa, but I’ve never seen a school like Shiplake. There’s something so unique and personal here - the Headmaster coming down to speak with us, the time and care everyone gave. I’d like to say a special thank you to everyone in the Shiplake community.'
The visit served as a powerful reminder of how education, sport and community can combine to create moments of genuine impact. Through its support of this tour, the Shiplake community helped demonstrate that even in the darkest circumstances, hope, kindness and opportunity can still shine through, far beyond any boundary.
