Cricket World Cup

This World Cup, hopefully a lot of Indian children are going to get that one step closer to getting formally educated, thanks to the ‘Boundaries for Books’ campaign launched by the ICC, Reliance Life Insurance and Room to Read. Room to Read is an international nonprofit organization committed to spread literacy all around the world.

Reliance Life Insurance in this unique initiative has promised to contribute Rs. 25000 for every six hit during the World Cup matches. This contribution will be made to Room to Read, which will be further used to build libraries and provide local language as well as English language books to the underprivileged children of India.

Thus each six hit will ensure 30 children of unparalleled access to libraries and training from teachers.

There are various cricketers who are doing their bit to contribute to this programme.This initiative has been supported by  Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews and Australia’s Shane Watson, who were the first ones  to become global ‘Room to Read’  Ambassadors.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Dale Steyn have also recorded promotional messages for the ‘Boundaries for Books’ campaign.  M S Dhoni was quoted saying “The ‘Boundaries for Books’ campaign is an opportunity for all of India to get involved and bring their love of their country and love of cricket together for the betterment of our children. If every six I hit will allow children to access books and libraries, then there is no better inspiration for me to play my best!”

John Wood, Room to Read Founder and Board Chair said that his organization is very proud to be promoting this initiative in collaboration with the ICC and Reliance Life Insurance. He further thanked the two organizations for supporting them to eradicate illiteracy, a potential problem to any sort of progress in the world.

Aussie all rounder Shane Watson said, “I am honored to be associated with Room to Read and the ‘Boundaries for Books’ campaign during this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. I first got into reading when I was about eighteen, and I now realize how important it is for everybody to have the opportunity to have access to books. Room to Read is making reading a reality for millions of children – as they say ‘World Change Starts with Educated Children’- and I am committed to helping this organization reach as many children as they possibly can.”

Not only the cricketers but the fans as well as everyone else will get a chance to contribute to this initiative by making donations in various forms. The details of the modes of contribution are yet to be released, but shall be soon revealed.

Anyone wishing to stay informed about the campaign can log on to www.roomtoread.org/worldcup.

Tags: Boundaries For Books, Cricket, ICC, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Literacy, Reliance Life Insurance, Room To Read, World Cup