Youths with(out) attitude

This afternoon I joined fellow staff in a philanthropy event, teaching and playing softball with kids from a local estate.

The kids, aged 5-15, were all immaculately behaved (save for a few curses of frustration at the third strike), and happily joined in mixed age and sex teams, to ensure an even (if somewhat unconventional) game rather than being precious about being with their friends.

Priceless moment was when one of the younger girls caught out the youth worker and had to check her glove in disbelief to see if the ball was in it. It was also great to see young girls getting round base by base whilst the boys who preferred the slug it and get caught out approach took being beaten by girls in good spirit.

Overall a great event, local residents commented how good it was to see young people positively engaged and I personally was impressed by the great attitude the older boys displayed, the antithesis of what I believe people have come to expect these days.

We left the softball kit with the youth workers and I'm looking forward to going back to give them a re-match in a few months after they've practised.