Connecting Through Cricket: Creating Space for Community and Belonging

When Vedansh was in Grade 10, he was travelling to a cricket match when two migrant workers approached him on the MRT and asked a simple question: where could they play cricket in Singapore?

He didn't have an answer.

The academy where he trained catered only to youth players. Thinking back on the conversation, he realised there were few, if any, established pathways for migrant workers to access the sport. Many of these men had spent years playing cricket in Bangladesh before moving to Singapore for work. Long working hours, limited facilities and the demands of daily life meant the game had gradually slipped away from them.

Wanting to change that, Vedansh set out to build a programme specifically for this community. Today, it has grown into a Local Service initiative at UWCSEA East that brings migrant workers and students together to play on the campus's field every fortnight.

They are working in partnership with In This Together, a non-profit organisation that supports migrant workers in Singapore, facilitating sessions on Sunday evenings, with mixed teams made up of students and migrant workers. New teams are formed each time, giving participants the chance to interact with different people every session.

The matches are highly competitive, with skill levels ranging from absolute beginner to seasoned players who can hit the ball clear across the field. As organiser and mentor, Vedansh often steps in to guide the less experienced players, ensuring everyone can contribute.

As the programme grew, he realised that creating a truly inclusive experience required careful planning. With just a two-hour window, it was easy for a few skilled players to dominate the match, leaving others without a turn to hit or throw the ball. To address this, he adjusted the traditional rules. He introduced limits on how long any single person could bat or pitch, and shortened the overall game so that every single participant got a meaningful turn.

Vedansh shared that one of the biggest challenges early on was communication. With many migrant workers speaking limited English and students not speaking Bengali, language could have easily become a barrier. Yet, this soon became one of the programme's most valuable lessons.

"Cricket has a universal rhythm to it," says Vedansh. "Once everyone is on the field, the game communicates for itself."

A cheer after a wicket, encouragement between teammates, or laughter after a missed catch often says enough. Over time, language has become less important than the shared experience of playing the game. The most meaningful aspect of the Service has been watching participants reconnect with a sport that has long been absent from their lives. "Many of these workers grew up playing cricket," Vedansh says. "It's deeply tied to their identity and their home. Seeing that joy return when they step onto the field is something no metric can capture."

Singapore's homes, buildings and infrastructure are shaped every day by the work of migrant workers, yet many remain largely unseen. Through cricket, Vedansh wanted to create a space where people were known by name, welcomed onto a team and looked forward to meeting each session.

The initiative has encouraged UWCSEA students to engage more deeply with the community around them. By spending time together as teammates, students gain a clearer appreciation for the experiences and contributions of the men who help build the country they call home.

After that chance encounter on the MRT, the answer to the question those two migrant workers asked can now be found on the UWCSEA East field every other Sunday.