MELBOURNE, 29 January 2025: UNICEF Australia and Cricket Australia have teamed up to make the CommBank Women’s Ashes Test an appeal for gender equality – for girls who can make it to the pitch.
The partnership will help support UNICEF’s programs in countries across the world, addressing critical issues like education, child marriage, safety, and adolescent health – such as UNICEF-supported programs across South Asia.
For instance, in Pakistan, in 2023 over 800,000 adolescent girls received weekly iron folic acid tablets, and 8,489 out-of-school adolescent girls were reached through accelerated learning, skills training, and labour market linkages to improve education outcomes.
And in Sri Lanka, a UNICEF-supported sport for development program aims to ensure girls have the opportunity to participate in sports – particularly cricket – to help them build their strength, give them an opportunity to participate in the community, support their learning, and build their skills in leadership and confidence.
“Donations will help support UNICEF’s work in gender equality. ‘Until every girl can play,’ is the theme, reflecting the aim of creating a world where every girl has access to education, health, nutrition, and safety, and live without gender being a barrier,” says Libby Hodgson, Deputy Director at UNICEF Australia.
How it works
Every appeal during the CommBank Women’s Ashes will also serve as an appeal for gender equality. Fans at the MCG and viewers at home will be encouraged to donate to UNICEF Australia to help empower girls and support their rights to education and safety.
The MCG will activate a call to action on the big screen and stadium signage, allowing fans to scan the QR code to donate, or by visiting www.unicef.org.au/cricket. An Appeal Cam will take place during the tea break, giving fans the chance to win a prize for the best appeals.
And around the MCG there will be Instagram frames, a photobooth and life-size player cut-outs for fans to get a happy snap.
Qantas, as a long-term mutual partner of both UNICEF Australia and Cricket Australia, are supporting the campaign. As part of this, Qantas have offered 500,000 frequent flyer points to encourage donations. Any person who donates to the campaign in the lead-up, during and post-match automatically goes into the draw to win the prize.
UNICEF Australia Ambassador and Australia’s men’s national cricket captain Pat Cummins says:
“I’m proud to support Cricket Australia and UNICEF Australia’s campaign to champion gender equality. The message is simple: until every girl can play. Until every girl has the same opportunities to thrive, both on and off the field.
“I encourage everyone watching to get involved. Together, we can help create a world where every girl has the chance to chase her dreams. Let’s stand together for gender equality – on the field and beyond.”
Find out more at www.unicef.org.au/cricket
Sources:
Text based on based release.
YouTube Video – UNESCO
