British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has said they are investing up to £54.5 million in the country over eight years to improve education outcomes for children, with a particular focus on girls.

“I wholly believe that sport is integral to a child’s education, and today we are proud to host the LEEDO cricket team that will be representing Bangladesh on the international stage. I wish them the best of luck for the competition,” she said.

The High Commissioner said ensuring 12 years of quality education for all children is at the centre of the UK’s drive to tackle poverty, promote gender equality, boost economic growth, and reduce conflict.

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On Wednesday, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke hosted a send-off event for the cricket team which will shortly represent Bangladesh in the Street Child Cricket World Cup in Chennai.

The team is comprised of children who were all rescued from a life on the streets, and now live at the LEEDO Peace Home in Dhaka.

LEEDO (Local Education and Economic Development Organisation) is a not-for-profit, voluntary-based development organisation founded in 2000. Through the provision of education, shelters, and lifestyle support, LEEDO aims to protect vulnerable street children and help them return to the mainstream community.

During the event, the young guests shared their experience on the street, and appealed to guests to help improve the life chances of other less fortunate children, said the British High Commission in Dhaka.

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The children were thrilled to meet star cricketer Tamim Iqbal, who attended the event to encourage the young cricketers. They showed off their cricketing skills to Tamim Iqbal and the British High Commissioner.

Forhad Hossain, Executive Director of LEEDO said they are incredibly proud of the journey these remarkable children have undertaken, from the challenging streets to becoming skilled cricketers representing Bangladesh on an international platform.

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Their participation in the Street Child Cricket World Cup is a testament to their resilience and the transformative power of support and education, he said.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, for hosting the send-off event that will encourage the team for the journey ahead. The inspiration from the respected guests as well as the sponsors will make them more confident to raise their voice globally to ensure the identity and access for the street connected children in Bangladesh.”