The Project

1. NAME OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL

Cricket Development in Northern Uganda Region while promoting social development 2012 -2015

2. BENEFICIARIES

Boys and Girls of 6 to 19 years of age in Northern Uganda region focusing on the areas of Gulu , Arua and Lira.

3. BACKGROUND

Following the revival of Cricket in Uganda in 1986, the Association has taken great strides in spreading the game in all regions apart from Northern Uganda which is just recovering from political instabilities. Currently Uganda boosts of having the biggest numbers of junior involvement in cricket in Africa after South Africa.

The importance of introducing Cricket at a very young age to children, across the border irrespective of gender, language or race, is well known.  This has been progressively carried out by our Development Officers in the central, eastern and western regions of Uganda but not availing a similar opportunity to the Northern region.

The first under age emerging from the program are already representing Uganda in under age teams.  It is thus of concern that the success of Cricket development should embrace the rest of Uganda.

The Association would also like to use the sport to contribute to the healing process for the children and community in Northern Uganda through giving these youths opportunity to enjoy the sport and also use the sport as a vehicle for transmitting social messages with aim of positively impacting on their lives plus also use the sport to achieve post conflict peace through the promotion of cohesion and development.

From preliminary research carried out we found out that Many Children and youths in northern Uganda were;

• Out of school and with little skills to help them survive
• Suffering from negative peer pressure influence and idleness and have few opportunities to access activities to positively occupy them.
• Orphans with no proper homes
• Not adequately receiving skills needed in daily life survival, rehabilitation etc.
• Still recovering from post war effects

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

OBJECTIVE 1: CRICKET INTRODUCTION

Empower boys and girls with social messages with the focus on life skills through the coaching of soft ball Cricket.

Development Officers will work with the practitioners trained to approximately reach 6,720 participants at identified schools on a weekly basis during a PE period.  These schools identified are situated close to each other in an area where cricket has not been played previously in the community.

Each participating coach, teacher and leader will receive a Cricket booklet with basic cricket information and Healthy Lifestyle messages.

The main focus would be having fun and enjoyment while introducing cricket to the children and the identification of talent.  Initially only soft balls will be used so that children will not get hurt but rather gain confidence.

Coaches will alternate cricket games and Healthy Lifestyle games regularly.

OBJECTIVE 2: USE CRICKET AS A TOOL FOR REHABILITATION, RECONCILIATION AND PEACE BUILDING

Bearing in mind that the northern region is recovering from the war, the project aims at contributing towards the conflict resolution exercise and use cricket as a tool to promote community cohesion, conflict prevention, and peace and development .It’s also hoped that the project will contribute to the integration of the child soldiers into society using cricket as an engagement tool.

OBJECTIVE 3: COACHING CLINICS

Profile PE school teachers and student teachers as Reconciliation and Healthy Life Style ‘Ambassadors’, while coaching cricket.

PE teachers and student teachers will be identified and trained by coaches as coaches by attending a coaching clinic, writing an exam and attending all coaching done by the Development Officers.  The Cricket Coaching Guides will be distributed to all practitioners trained in any of these courses.  The Cricket Coaching Guide consists of three sections: Cricket coaching guide, reconciliation and healing messages/ Healthy Lifestyle Messages / Games and complete cricket coaching lessons.

OBJECTIVE 4: CRICKET EQUIPMENT

Enable Cricket to roll out with the supply of adequate sport and cricket equipment.

The availability of enough Cricket Equipment is vital for successful coaching at schools, disadvantaged communities…It would be ideal to supply each institution with a Cricket set of their own which consists of 2 sets of wickets in a base, 2 bats and 2 balls.  This will allow the schools to practice during the week and also for future matches.

OBJECTIVE 5: ROLE MODELS AND MEDIA

Advocate about the Mini Cricket intervention in the media.

National cricket players preferably will be identified to act as a role model for the players as to behavior on and off the field as well as leading the example of a healthy lifestyle.

All children need heroes and they must be given a hero that is not only educated in and leading a healthy lifestyle daily, but also projects a sporting, positive and enthusiastic outlook on life, who embraces life and is a leading example with behavior on and off the field – someone to look up to the identified cricket player/s will give motivational speeches at schools to promote children to participate in cricket activities and compete at the highest levels while promoting the core messages of the project.

In addition UCA’s web-site will be regularly updated with information regarding the Project.  The project will also be advocated regularly through TV and radio as well as monthly reports in the Africa Cricket Association’s newsletter ‘Africa Newsflash’ which is circulated worldwide.

5. PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Introduction of soft ball Cricket to primary school children at identified schools weekly during a PE (physical exercise) periods.  Initial Coaching done by existing and newly appointed Cricket coaches and Development Officer. UCA and OPM to coordinate the mobilizing of the communities, schools ,youths etc

Coordinate the project Partners Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) , Office of the Prime Minister ( OPM), Cricket  Without Boundaries (CWB) & International Cricket Council  (ICC) to develop joined up methodologies for delivering the training, develop media campaigns plus social messaging materials.

Teachers, teachers students and older cricket playing children to be trained as soft ball Cricket coaches, scorers and umpires at coaching clinics organized at the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centers – getting teachers and older children attracted to and involved in all aspects of the game

Selecting teams in each age group to participate in internal and external school competitions.

Organizing tournaments in Northern Uganda Region inviting cricket playing Schools to participate and compete against participating schools  to give player more opportunity for exposure

Provide players and teacher coaches with core information on community cohesion, conflict prevention and resolution , HIV prevention, alcohol abuse and reduction of gender based discrimination

Provide Cricket equipment to participating schools and communities adolescent health and development

Establishing role models

Coaches /Teachers /Development Officers’ daily, weekly and monthly programs coaching programs monitored by the Head Office periodically.

Setting up of District associations/ group/ partnerships to drive the project and create sustainability. The district associations will partner with the local government, Education department, NGO’s and Community groups.

6. EXPECTED OUTPUTS

6720 children (50% boys and 50% girls) in Northern Uganda region introduced to soft ball Cricket.  Young children getting involved in all aspects of the game, i.e. scoring, umpiring, etc as well as being introduced to games to promote reconciliation, life skills , peace etc.

84 teachers exposed to coaching Cricket on a weekly basis

84 teachers receiving training to promote reconciliation, life skills, peace and conflict resolution etc.

12  Secondary schools introduced into playing cricket in leagues and matches regularly

7. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The KPIs for this project will be include;-

– The number of participants introduced to the game

– Number of schools and communities covered under this program

– The number of practitioners trained

– The extent of using the sport to promote

reconciliation, life skills, peace, healthy lifestyle etc

– The number of schools and communities that receive equipment and the quantity.

– The number of competitions / festivals that are conducted

8. VISIBILITY OF THE PROJECT

All activities will be advertised on the Cricket Uganda website with regular updates.

Report backs will be done on local television and radio stations

Monthly reports in the Africa Cricket Association’s newsletter ‘Africa Newsflash’ which is circulated worldwide.

Periodical reports to the funding partners

9. PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

1^{st April 2012 – 31st March 2015}

10. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPERVISION

The project will be delivered by Uganda Cricket Association on behalf of the International Cricket Council/ Africa Cricket Association. The Africa Cricket Council on behalf of the International Cricket Council will support and monitor the project. UCA will also partner with the Office of the Prime Minister and Cricket without Boundaries  to deliver some of the activities

The Project through the district associations formed will partner with the local government, Education department, NGO’s and Community groups in delivering the project.

11. PROJECT FUNDING

The project will be funded through joint partnerships with the biggest contributions coming from UK SPORT. However, Uganda Cricket Association, ICC, Office of the Prime Minister and Cricket Without Boundaries will make contributions to the project in terms of training, equipment, providing some of the technical staff ,  supervisions etc. Cricket without Boundaries will be contacted to deliver some components of this project that fall under the areas of expertise.

Office of the Prime Minister will in addition support the training through the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre using it as a hub for training the project trainers in the region

The British Council shall be made aware of the project and periodically briefed for the necessary support.

 Justine Ligyalingi
Chief Executive Officer
Uganda Cricket Association