St.Vincent and
the Grenadines

Sport for Life! was officially launched in St.Vincent and the Grenadines in February 2010. The Learning Centre is located at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground.

The Sport For Life! Learning Centre has an IT suite equipped with 16 computers and a whiteboard with projector. Children aged 10-14 attend 4 hour sessions on Saturday mornings which are split between learning and sports coaching. The learning component includes specially developed curriculum material in key subjects such as English, Math and ICT along with healthy lifestyle and leadership modules. Cricket coaching is also provided in association with the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association. 50 students are registered on the programme.

Sport for Life! Inc. is a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines registered not-for-profit organisation. Initial funding for the project has come from private individuals who have equipped the centre and Microsoft who provided IT software free of charge to Sport for Life! Learning Centres across the region. Additionally Sport for Life! has attracted funding from the prestigious Mustique Charitable Foundation.

Internationally, the programme has the active support of the England & Wales Cricket Board, the West Indies Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council.

Commenting on the Sport for Life!' programme, Prime Minister Gonsalves said:

"Students enrolled in the Sport for Life! programme will benefit from its unique combination of cricket and the chance to study using the latest IT equipment. Children will have the chance to really develop their sporting and academic skills. This in turn will help them develop to their full potential and make a success of their lives."

The Minister of Sport said:

"Sport, and especially cricket, in the Caribbean attracts young and old like no other activity. We know that the power of sport can recruit and change young people’s lives for the better and provide a sustainable future for them. We are delighted that Sport for Life! will be doing just that here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The Chairman of the National Sports Council, Mr. Teddy James said:

"Cricket plays a central role in Vincentian society. Sport for Life! gives us the opportunity to expand that role and help many children in the country who could be making more of their lives and their sporting skills. Arnos Vale is a perfect facility for this and Sport for Life! fulfils its purpose as a centre for community activity as well as host to world class cricket matches."

Chairman of the Mustique Charitable Trust Mr. Roger Pritchard said:

"The Sport for Life! St. Vincent and the Grenadines programme complements the focus of the MCT and its commitment to improve the opportunities for children, young people and vulnerable adults while supporting the development of local communities throughout Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. As well as a monetary contribution the MCT will also work along with Sport for Life! to raise funds for the sustainability of the programme.”

Lord Richard Newby, UK Director of Sport for Life! Inc. said:

"Sport for Life! truly has the potential to change the lives of many children both in Kingstown and across the islands for the better. We are immensely grateful to our sponsors. We will be looking for additional resources both internationally and domestically, to enable the project to develop. With Sport for Life! now active in Pakistan, the UK and, shortly, South Africa, we are optimistic that this will be achievable."