30 June 2014

Launch of Women’s Cricket Program

Australia is supporting Cricket PNG to establish a new Women’s Cricket Program.

The national women’s cricket team, the “Lewas” and its players will deliver the program by carrying out awareness and advocacy activities with women and girls and assisting in training programs on and off the field. The activities will form part of the broader Kriket Bilong Olgeta program.

Cricket PNG will provide Boy Free Zone Cricket Games to introduce the game to more girls and women. A new program - Born to Play – will help young girls enhance their skill in cricket during term breaks.

The program will refer girls and women to services from groups including the Young Women’s Christian Association PNG, Anglicare, PNG Education Advocacy Network (PEAN) and World Vision to enhance health, foster self esteem and provide opportunities for leadership.
“Sport has tremendous potential to improve the lives of children and families and strengthen communities,” Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, said.

“Women and girls must have equal rights to access and participate in sport. The Women’s Cricket Program will provide girls and women with opportunities to play, build social networks, get social support and develop their leadership potential.”

Ms Neillie Pabulu, Kriket Bilong Olgeta Program Coordinator, said: “Cricket PNG would like to positively change existing gender norms and help girls and women move into public spaces without any fear. Moreover, the women’s cricket program should provide opportunities to bring communities together and help realize development objectives relating to such issues as (post) conflict management, reproductive health and gender –based violence.”

“Cricket PNG believes that sport is an integral part of the culture of almost every nation. However, its use to promote gender equity and empower girls and women is often overlooked because sport is not universally perceived as a suitable or desirable pursuit for females. Existing social constructs of masculinity and femininity or socially accepted ways of expressing what it means to be a man or woman in a particular socio-cultural context play a key role in determining access, levels of participation, and benefits from sport.”

The Kriket Bilong Olgeta program is part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Sports Partnerships which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Pacific Sports Partnerships aim to strengthen the delivery of quality sport for development activities in Pacific communities by building the skills of local administrators, coaches and officials.