New education initiative launched in Sri Lanka
A unique cricket education programme has been launched in Sri Lanka this week aimed at inspiring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop leadership skills.
24 children, including former child soldiers, aged 16-18, underwent a week of training as part of a new ICC initiative, delivered in partnership with UNICEF, Sri Lanka Cricket, Cricket for Change, Peace and Sport, the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms and Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka, that aims to create peer leaders who can deliver cricket programmes.
The participants have been targeted as part of a wider initiative aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating format child combatants back into society.
On completion of the programme, UNICEF is committed to supporting these trained leaders put into practice what they have learnt in order that other children can benefit from their newly acquired skills.
Staff from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board were also present to observe the sessions and learn more about the concept and methodology used as part of longer-term plans to potentially roll out the programme across the country.
The project has been funded through the ICC's Centenary fundraising activities in 2009, where a number of partners contributed to a ?Catch the Spirit' appeal.
Among those contributing to this initiative were the ICC, Sri Lanka Cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Pakistan Cricket Board, West Indies Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board, MCC and Surrey CCC.
Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive of the ICC, said: "Cricket for Children is part of the ICC's commitment to cricket's Great Spirit campaign but could not have been delivered without the commitment and energy of our partners such as Cricket 4 Change, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, the United Nations Children's Fund as well as the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms and Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka.
"This initiative is a clear demonstration of cricket's desire to promote peace and "to build bridges between continents, countries and communities" - particularly in the wake of the terrible terror attack on the Sri Lanka Cricket team and the ICC match officials in Lahore in March 2009.
"We are grateful for other Members of the cricket family for the collective support in this project and also for the forthcoming projects planned in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Cricket can be rightly proud of helping to develop a project which goes beyond the boundaries of our Great Sport and captures the very essence of the Great Spirit campaign."
Similar projects will be launched in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in due course.