Bowled Over by Change

In the green, sun-drenched village of Thevakiramam, in Ampara district of eastern Sri Lanka, the sharp sound of leather striking a bat echo across a makeshift cricket pitch. But this isn’t just the sound of a game; it’s the sound of youth breaking through social barriers. 

Thevakiramam, once known as Alikkambay, is home to a close-knit group of about 322 Telugu-speaking families of Indian origin who migrated to Sri Lanka nearly 80 years ago. Their roots, once tied to indentured labour, were further burdened by the chains of caste-based discrimination. 

Speaking in a language unfamiliar to their Sinhalese and Tamil neighbours, they were sidelined and reduced to silence for decades; only spoken to when they visited villages and towns begging for food or money. 

Today, the villagers have shifted from subsistence and begging to agriculture and fisheries, giving them a dignified livelihood. But their hearts and minds still bore the scars of marginalization. Fear of rejection and a lack of self-worth kept them isolated, even as the rest of the region progressed. 

Yet today, on this same land, a transformation is underway; not through protests or politics, but through the joyful, spirited swings of a cricket bat. Through Sports for Development (S4D) programme supported by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), cricket coupled with youth engagement, has become a major driver of change in the village.  

At first, there was hesitation - why sports, and why now? But slowly, the idea of forming a children’s club took root. For the first time, both young boys and girls were invited to join as equals, a radical shift in a place where youth voices had long gone unheard. 

Among those whose life changed most dramatically is 23-year-old Anuvaththu Vinoth. “Before we started our village children’s club,” he recalls, “we were anxious about interacting with others, especially outside our community. We wouldn’t even say good morning to anyone.” 

Vinoth, the second of three children in his family, was like many of his peers; drifting aimlessly after school, without direction or a sense of belonging. “Even within the village, youth weren’t taken seriously. But after joining the children’s club, something clicked. It gave us purpose. We started to understand what it meant to be disciplined, to have passion, to set goals. We started to matter.” 

The girls’ and boys’ cricket teams became the beating heart of the new children’s club. With new equipment and regular training facilitated through S4D support, the teams began to thrive. But it wasn’t just cricket. It was about confidence and connection. 

The S4D programme is funded by UNICEF Australia and implemented by UNICEF Sri Lanka in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Through its partnerships with community-based organizations such as CERI, UNICEF has brought to life, a powerful model of social change using sport as a tool to strengthen social cohesion, promote unity among diverse communities, and foster gender inclusivity and youth engagement.  

More than 100 children’s clubs have been revitalized or established through this initiative, impacting over 1000 children and young persons with the tools, confidence, and life skills to lead and participate in society with dignity. 

These are communities and youth who once never dreamed of playing sports. Caught between discrimination and poverty, sport was never an option, let alone an opportunity. But S4D has changed that narrative. It has given children and adolescents permission to dream, to play, and to belong.  

For the youth of Thevakiramam, the cricket pitch has become a place where identities are not questioned, only celebrated. 

The S4D programme took the youth of Thevakiramam beyond the boundaries of their little village, to Batticaloa and Ampara towns, where they met their peers from other children’s clubs. For many, it was the first time they had interacted with peers from other ethnic groups or communities.  

Vinoth recalls a life-changing moment from one such trip: “I met a Sinhala-speaking peer named Nimesh. I didn’t know a word of Sinhalese, but we still connected. He did not laugh at me when I said I was left-handed. I was made fun of it, all my life. Instead, he said it could be my strength. He helped me see it differently.” 

That simple act of acceptance transformed Vinoth. “Now, I even know a few words in Sinhala! And Nimesh and I still keep in touch. It’s the first real friendship I’ve had outside my community.” 

Vinoth’s voice has grown stronger. He is now a mentor to younger youth in the village. “I have dreams now. I want to go abroad for work, earn money, and bring it back to develop my village. I want our community and our youth to thrive.” 

The story of Thevakiramam youth goes beyond cricket. It’s about dignity and inclusion. About how something as simple as sport can become a vehicle for deep and lasting social change. 

“For years, poverty, language barriers, and deep-rooted social stigma isolated the youth of this community. They had no voice and no real connection with the outside world,” says parish priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Fr. S. Jeganathan. “But now I see a remarkable shift. The young people now carry themselves with pride. They are motivated, respectful, and hopeful.” 

The changes are not only visible on the cricket field, but in how these young people see themselves and their place in the world. It’s a transformation that has inspired hope across the entire community. 

UNICEF Sri Lanka Officer Nifal Alawdeen, who has been closely involved in the initiative, reflects, “What we’re seeing in Thevakiramam is exactly what Sports for Development is all about; unlocking human potential. For a community that has lived isolated for so long, this programme has created visibility, voice and, most importantly, hope. These young people are no longer sidelined; they are leaders in their own right. And that is the real win.” 

In the heart of Thevakiramam, the youth now walk taller. They greet strangers with confidence and talk about dreams, about futures that were once unimaginable. And when the cricket ball flies high, it carries with it not just the hope of a run scored, but the promise of a community reborn.