DP World Donates Cricket Kits to Schools in Barbados, Enhancing Youth Cricket Development

Several schools across Barbados are set to benefit from a generous donation of cricket kits, courtesy of DP World, the official sponsor of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

As part of DP World’s “Beyond Boundaries” initiative, 10 cricket kits were donated for every team that scored 100 runs during a World Cup match. The kits will be distributed to primary and secondary schools, as well as academies, in a move aimed at fostering young cricketing talent on the island.

The distribution event will take place on Saturday, 12th October 2024, at 10:00 AM at Friendship Playing Field and is organised by the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club in partnership with the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA). This initiative will ensure that schools across Barbados are equipped with much-needed cricket gear, enabling aspiring cricketers to develop their skills from an early age.

Among the schools and academies set to receive these kits are:

Franklyn Stephenson Academy

Sharon Primary School

Holy Innocents Primary School

Hillaby Turners Primary School

St. Catherine’s Primary School

Coleridge and Parry School

Yorkshire Cricket Club

St. Matthew’s Primary School

Bayleys Primary School

Eden Lodge Primary School

Grazettes Primary School

St. Gabriel’s Primary School

Hilda Skeene Primary School

St. Catherine’s Juniors

Eagle Hall Primary School

Lester Vaughan School

Hilltop Primary School

St. Giles Primary School

The donation is part of a wider initiative to enhance cricket at the grassroots level, providing schools with the resources necessary to inspire young cricketers and strengthen the future of the sport. Each participating school will receive top-quality kits, which are expected to make a significant impact on physical education programmes and cricket training across the island.

Roland Butcher, President of the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club, expressed his excitement about the programme’s impact on schools, stating, “This donation is not only about supporting individual players but about ensuring that schools across Barbados have access to the equipment necessary to foster the next generation of cricketers. This will help nurture young talent from an early age and encourage them to engage more with the sport.”

Sasha Sutherland, Chair of the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club, added, “We’re thrilled to see so many schools benefiting from this initiative. By ensuring that young cricketers, especially girls, have access to proper cricket gear, we are taking a critical step toward growing the sport at the grassroots level.”

Pedro Greaves, Chairman of the Barbados Cricket Association Youth Committee, highlighted the value of this contribution to school cricket, saying, “This collaboration is vital in expanding access to cricket in schools across Barbados. It’s essential to provide children with the tools they need to succeed in the game, and this initiative plays a key role in that.”

This initiative promises to elevate the sport’s presence in schools, giving students from various backgrounds the opportunity to participate and excel in cricket, with the ultimate goal of building a stronger cricketing future for Barbados. (JC)