A series of workshops for Just Play – an OFC initiative designed to promote healty living for children aged between six and 12 years – were held in Honiara last month and were greeted with much enthusiasm.
The aim of the workshops were to introduce local teachers to Just Play and give them guidelines on how it can be run in their schools. They can now put what they have learned into practice with the arrival of the equipment packs, which contain balls, cones, bibs, activity manuals and other resources that enable children to play football.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) special projects manager Phillip Ohoto’ona is delighted to have received the equipment and is optimistic that all the Just Play schools will be able to successfully implement the programme, despite having to pause for the Christmas break.
All the schools involved are expected to start their six-week programmes this week and the SIFF technical officer for Just Play, former international Commins Menapi, will visit them regularly for support and advice over this period.
Just Play was developed by the OFC social and technical departments and is led by OFC Head of Social Responsibility Franck Castillo, Technical Coordinator Tuaa and Just Play consultant Vania Kenning.
As well as the Solomons, Just Play has already been introduced in Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tahiti and South Auckland in New Zealand. Next on the agenda are Fiji and the Cook Islands while OFC is also currently working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities.
OFC is working closely with the Government of Australia – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to roll out the programme across the Pacific. The Australian Government has shown its support to the project by contributing AU$4million.
In South Auckland, Just Play is supported by OFC’s partnership with the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Counties Manukau Sport and Auckland Football Federation.
For more on Solomon Islands football visit www.siff.com.sb