Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched ‘CRIIIO 4 GOOD,’ an online life skills learning program aimed at promoting gender equality among girls and boys. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNICEF, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Present at the event were Dr Kuber Dindor, Minister for Tribal Development, Primary, Secondary, and Adult Education, Government of Gujarat; Shri Praful Pansheriya, Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs, Primary, Secondary, and Adult Education, Higher Education; Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative of UNICEF; Shri Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI; Indian cricketer and Celebrity Supporter for ICC-UNICEF CRIIIO 4 GOOD initiative, Smt. Smriti Mandhana; Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education; officials from the Ministry of Education and UNICEF; and over 1000 children.
Shri Pradhan emphasized the National Education Policy 2020’s commitment to gender parity and equal opportunities. He highlighted the potential of sports, particularly cricket, to empower girls and promote gender equity. He also noted the historic significance of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in advancing women-led development in India.
Smt Smriti Mandhana introduced the first learning modules of CRIIIO 4 GOOD to the enthusiastic audience of school children. These modules, designed to be engaging and interactive, use cricket to impart essential life skills and raise awareness about gender equality among boys and girls.
‘CRIIIO 4 GOOD’ comprises 8 cricket-based animation films aimed at promoting gender equality, equipping girls with life skills, and encouraging their participation in sports. ICC and UNICEF released these modules to inspire children and youth to acquire critical life skills and appreciate the importance of gender equality. The program is available for free in English, Hindi, and Gujarati on criiio.com/criiio4good.
The eight modules cover themes such as leadership, problem-solving, confidence, decision-making, negotiation, empathy, teamwork, and goal setting. They are presented through state-of-the-art animations using cricketing examples, ensuring relatability through in-depth research into local nuances.