'Criiio 4 Good' program launched by ICC, BCCI and UNICEF with Indian Ministry of Education
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF have jointly launched a new online learning program called "Criiio 4 Good" with the aim of teaching children and youth critical life skills and promoting gender equality.
The program was officially launched in Ahmedabad, India, in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Education and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
India women's vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, delivered the first learning modules to over 1000 school children at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
"Criiio 4 Good" consists of eight sport-for-development modules, with a focus on themes related to gender equity and creating equal opportunities for boys and girls in India.
These modules use cricket as a medium to convey their messages. This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The program includes eight animated films that employ state-of-the-art animation techniques and cricket examples to teach specific life skills.
These skills include leadership, problem-solving, confidence, decision-making, negotiation, empathy, teamwork, and goal setting. The content has been tailored to reflect local nuances.
The Ministry of Education plans to promote these modules to more than 1.5 million schools across India through the Diksha platform, ensuring a lasting impact beyond the Cricket World Cup.
Additionally, the eight learning modules are available for free on the Criiio website and can be accessed in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
Smriti Mandhana expressed her support for the initiative, highlighting its use of cricket to impart important life skills and promote gender equity among boys and girls.
She emphasized the importance of supporting both genders to reach their full potential, both in sports and in life.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah commended the program for promoting cricket's values along with essential life skills and gender equity. He sees it as a significant step toward empowering the youth of India.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice highlighted that this program underscores the ICC's longstanding commitment to making positive changes through global cricket events.
Over the years, the ICC and UNICEF have utilized cricket events to enhance the lives of children and youth worldwide,
and "Criiio 4 Good" continues this mission as part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.