Three hundred and sixty children in Solomon Islands will be able to complete their education thanks to the UBS Learn and Play project for making available finances to pay for their education.

OFC president Reynald Temarii purposely visited Honiara last week to formally announce the project.

He arrived on Thursday and made the formal announcement at a dinner organized by SIFF at the Honiara hotel.

Among the invited guests was the Minister of Education Dr. Derek Sikua, his permanent secretary Barnabas Anga other members of members of parliament and stake holders.

It was a fitting occasion to have president Temarii for the official announcement.

SIFF president Martin Alufurai in his remarks highlighted president Temarii’s vision for Oceania saying the UBS project tie in well with that vision.

He pointed out that there was no unity in the Oceania footballing family prior to president Temarii’s election as OFC’s number one soccer boss in 2004.

“His election has brought stability to the Oceania region and now we are enjoying its benefits,” said Alufurai

The SIFF president further added that Temarii’s vision to develop football in the region has seen a sharp rise in football activities in recent times.

Referring to the UBS project, Alufurai said it the UBS project will benefit the under-privileged kids – especially those whose future is uncertain until the project was initiated.

He went further by assuring the OFC president of SIFF’s support for his vision and more so football programmes he plans to implement during his term in office.

The UBS project was the brainchild of Urs Zanitti of FIFA who over the last two years worked tirelessly to ensure funds are made available for this purpose.

The Minister of Education Dr. Derek Sikua was overwhelmed with the project saying that his government fully supports the UBS Learn and Play Project.

He stressed that the project will provide education opportunities to 360 children aged between 12 and 15 with a third of them girls.

Because of the difficult economic situation, many parents cannot afford to send their children to school for the entire period of education.

However, the project will significantly improve the lives of those under-privileged children by providing them opportunity to continue their education with the prospects of job later says Dr. Derek.

The children will be selected according to precisely defined criteria and will take the normal subjects such as language, humanity and science.

Besides they will also take optional crafts subjects, which will prepare them for the World of Work.

Along with the high quality educational provision, soccer will also be on the timetable.

The Learn and Play project will see additional infrastructure built in three designated schools namely St. Josephs Tenaru, Aligegeo and Goldie College.

Such new development includes the construction of dormitories, classrooms and accommodation for coordinators and coaches.

Besides additional teaching staff will also be employed to ensure those intakes are catered for.

Last week, the regional coordinators and other stake holders spent two days going over the project details with FIFA Goal Development officer Glenn Turner and FIFA’s technical man Urs Zanitti.

It is hoped that following this workshop, all parties involved in the project will be able to implement it and see that it is successful.