JARKATA, Indonesia — Baseball Australia and the Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) have launched the “Diamonds in the Rough” social development programme in Indonesia to help promote gender equality and the prevention of domestic violence through sport.

Baseball is among 10 sports that form the Australian Sport for Development in Asia programme, which aims to spread the values of sport—competition, teamwork and fair play—and build trust between countries, as well as share Australia’s own identity, values and culture.

Prominent figures from the Australian Women’s National Baseball Team, the world No. 3 “Emeralds”, along with Jakarta-based Hit Factory, recently organised baseball courses and activities in Jakarta to help break down barriers and reinforce women’s equal role, opportunities and success stories in sport and in society.

Local girls and parents traveled as far as 150 km/93 miles to participate in the first phase of the baseball social development initiative, which is supported by the Indonesian Baseball Softball Federation.

Diamonds in the Rough supporters include the Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth, and NO MORE.

The Emerald players and coaches will schedule another visit to Jakarta to continue the social development through sports programme.