SOUTH AFRICA: CRICKET - The Indian Premier League injects money into South African education

Record ID: 1532239

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: CRICKET - The Indian Premier League injects money into South African education
  • Date: 18th April 2009
  • Summary: STUDENTS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 2009 03:22
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA5OZEDA81AMKFVUKXSVIWDDYK
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The Indian Premier League launched on Friday (April 17) an R9-million scholarship programme for schools and individual learners that will be among the largest community programmes in South Africa by a sport organisation.
    The tournament's Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi announced the programme at a special event at Alexander Sinton High School in Athlone, Cape Town.
    Modi said that the emergence of a modern and successful India in recent times has been built on a strong education foundation.

    "Modern India owes a spectacular growth and vibrancy to one thing and one thing only, a total commitment to education and it is this commitment that the IPL wishes to leave behind as its humble legacy," said Modi.
    The school became the first beneficiary of the Help Educate And Teach (HEAT) programme when headmaster Faziel Parker officially received R100 000 paid into a dedicated scholarship fund at the school.

    "A total of 9 million Rands ($1 million), we believe is the largest social investment made by a sporting organisation in this country which we would like to make on behalf of the Indian Premier League,"
    added Modi.
    The launch was attended by hundreds of Alexander Sinton High School learners who were joined for the occasion by captains and leading players of DLF IPL teams including Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Aakash Chopra, RP Singh and Daniel Vettori.
    They were also joined by Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Priety Zinta.

    "I think South Africa has welcomed us with open arms and this is a very small way of giving back and I don't think we could ever thank them for having us have the IPL tournament and that soon. Today seeing the kids out here and their excitement and the excitement for cricket was amazing so I think it's a perfect way to start IPL season 2 in South Africa," said Zinta.
    Modi told the learners that a good education remains at the heart of any effort to develop and uplift individuals and nations.
    Modi's views were backed up by launch hosts Francois Pienaar and India cricket legend Ravi Shastri.
    Thirty two schools will benefit from the HEAT programme and players from all the DFL IPL teams will be involved in visiting the beneficiary schools to mark the occasion.
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