Republic Bank Limited (RBL) is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the RBL “Five for Fun” cricket programme in primary schools across Grenada, marking the second consecutive year of this exciting grassroots cricket partnership.
First launched in 2024 with the support of the Grenada Cricket Association (GCA) and the ministries of Education and Youth and Sport, “Five for Fun” is designed to be educational and entertaining, while providing students from 31 primary schools ages 8 to 12 with the opportunity to learn the basics of cricket in a fun and supportive environment.
By prioritising fun and participation over competition, the programme introduces young players to the joys of the game, while fostering important life skills such as leadership, cooperation, and communication at an early age.
President of the GCA, Norman Gilbert, in addressing the attendees, remarked: “We are proud to partner with Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies in fostering the next generation of talent and ensuring that cricket remains a unifying force for Grenada’s future. Together, let us celebrate this journey of fun, development, and opportunity for all.”
Delivering the sponsor’s remarks, Dorian McPhail, Manager Retail Services at Republic Bank’s Melville Street Branch, said: “We believe not just in banking, but in creating opportunities for our youth to grow and thrive; and what better way to invest in that future, than by nurturing the talents, dreams, and ambitions of our children. This investment is made possible through our flagship Power to Make A Difference programme — a programme which for over 20 years, has left and continues to leave indelible marks on the lives of our youth, through initiatives like this.”
Among the attendees at the launch were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sport Kim Frederick; Denva Welsh, Curriculum Officer Physical Education in the Ministry of Education, and Afy Fletcher, West Indies Women’s Senior Cricketer and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Winner 2016.
With reference to CWI’s preparation in Grenada and Carriacou for the Republic Bank “Five for Fun” programme launch, CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe stated: “As a main partner & stakeholder, CWI has continued its efforts to host pre-programme coaching workshops and refresher courses in Grenada and other host territories, to ensure that our coaches and related support staff have sufficient capacity not only in cricket but also child protection and safety, to effectively and efficiently teach and transfer the knowledge of the game in a manner that supports lifelong learning.”
Positioned as part of CWI’s Rising Stars programme and pathway, the “Five for Fun” Cricket is set to run in 6 zones across Grenada and Carriacou, with 2024’s ‘Five for Fun’ champions Crochu R C School slated to participate and defend their title in this year’s programme.
As part of the sponsorship, Republic Bank will also provide participants with branded tokens and certificates of participation, with the winning team of this year’s programme receiving gift vouchers for startup Republic Bank RightStart accounts.
Republic Bank (Grenada) Limited
