Delilah Sablan loves cricket. Blistering heat and torrential rain be damned: this ‘mama’ from the Vanuatu island of Ifira will rock up to any pitch with bat in hand, ready to play. And don’t let her floral outfits fool you. Delilah is a powerhouse whose devastating swing is an outfielder’s nightmare.

The popularity of cricket has boomed in Vanuatu in recent years, particularly among women. It’s this love of the game that was the basis for a recently completed pilot, the Women’s Island Cricket Project, which encouraged 30 local women to be more active and taught them the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Delilah was one of the participants.

“I heard news going around the village that there was a meeting planned for women about a program involving cricket,” says Delilah, 46, who was once a member of a touring women’s team. It proved to be an easy sell — within a week Delilah had registered for the 15-week program.

“When I first attended the program I had the impression that we were only going to play cricket. However, I then realised cricket was only part of this program, with other components added. The thing that caught my attention most about the program was the useful awareness talks, nutrition classes and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) talks, with a dedicated nurse visiting us every two weeks to conduct testing.”

In a country where NCDs are on the rise, improving diets and encouraging physical activity is essential. A report by the World Health Organization in 2011 revealed that NCDs account for 70 per cent of deaths in Vanuatu.

The pilot — a joint effort between the Australian Sports Commission, AusAID, International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific (ICC EAP) and other partners as part of the Pacific Sports Partnerships — saw some remarkable results. By the end of the 15 weeks, 92 per cent of the women had reduced their waist measurement and 50 per cent lost weight. Many are now getting involved in other sports and sharing their knowledge with family and the wider community, such as preparing nutritious meals at community events.

Delilah surprised herself with her results, including a reduced blood sugar level. “I was indeed very pleased with myself on achieving these great results. I told my family how this program has benefitted me because it helps me keep track of my blood sugar level and now I am controlling what I eat and drink daily.”

With the results from the pilot now in the bag, it is hoped the program will be expanded to include other communities in Vanuatu and be longer in duration. Preliminary work is currently underway to roll it into four more communities this year.

Delilah is eager to see it continued on her island, and not just because she loves her cricket.

“The awareness talks and the trainings have widened our knowledge in many areas of life. My family keeps demanding  me to cook from the nutritious list of recipes I received!” she exclaims.

“[And] as a former player I’m delighted that the program reunited the women of Ifira to come together and replay the sport.” 

For more information about the ASC’s International Sport for Development initiatives visit here.