The International Cricket Council (ICC) and official charity partner UNICEF today released a new online, life skills learning initiative, Criiio 4 Good aimed at promoting gender equity among girls and boys. The program was launched with the Indian Ministry of Education, Government of India and Board of Control for Cricket in India in Ahmedabad.
India vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana delivered the first learning modules to over 1000 school children at Narendra Modi Stadium, the same venue where the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will get underway in just one week’s time.
The groundbreaking entry-level program will have eight sport-for-development modules, themed around gender equity and told through cricket. The modules will raise awareness around gender equity and the importance of creating equal opportunities for every boy and girl in India.
Each animated film part of Criiio 4 Good initiative focuses on a specific life skill, namely, leadership, problem-solving, confidence, decision making, negotiation, empathy, teamwork and goal setting and are visualised through state-of-the-art animation using cricketing examples. In-depth research into local nuances make the films real and relatable.
The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, who will be promoting the modules to more than 1.5 million schools across India through the Diksha platform, ensuring a legacy beyond the Cricket World Cup. In addition, each of the eight learning modules are available free of charge at criiio.com/criiio4good and can be viewed in English, Hindi and Gujarati.
Present at the launch event in Ahmedabad were Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Government of India; Dr. Kuberbhai Dindor, Hon’ble Minister of Primary, Secondary & Adult Education | Tribal Development, Government of Gujarat and other state government officials; Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, Board of Control for Cricket in India; Smriti Mandhana, India vice-captain; Anurag Dahiya, ICC Chief Commercial Officer; Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative, UNICEF India and 1000 children and their teachers.
UNICEF India Representative, Cynthia McCaffrey said: “UNICEF appreciates its partnership with ICC, Ministry of Education and BCCI for promoting gender equity among girls and boys during ICC World Cup 2023. Criiio 4 Good is an innovative way to engage millions of young children and adolescents with the message that both girls and boys must enjoy equal opportunities to realize their rights and fulfil their aspirations. The Cricket World Cup provides an amazing opportunity to reach out to millions with the message that each one of us must be a champion for girls and equal rights for all children.”
