British aid has supported an innovative programme to use cricket in the Caribbean to tackle HIV and AIDS.  

The Caribbean has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in the world and AIDS is the leading cause of death of Caribbean people between the ages of 25 to 44.

In 2003 a group of Caribbean Prime Ministers requested the support of the UK to tackle the fundamental problem of HIV related stigma and discrimination which was acknowledged as a major driver of the epidemic in the region. 

Bowling out AIDS

This led to the development of the Champions for Change programme, a commitment to establish a Stigma Unit, and the launch of Bowling out AIDS as an initiative that would mobilise the appeal of cricket in the region to tackle HIV-related stigma and discrimination through working with young cricketers. 

The Bowling out AIDS programme was administered by the International Development through Sports Unit of Commonwealth Games Canada – an agency with wide international experience in the management and delivery of similar programmes and strong working relationships in the Caribbean. 

The programme has designed a Bowling out AIDS curriculum and training programme specifically for youth cricketers by adapting the well-established Kicking AIDS Out programme. The resources for the Bowling out AIDS initiative and curriculum are available in this category by clicking on the caegory name above