The workshops were led by OFC Just Play coordinator Colin Tuaa and he was assisted by technical staff from the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF).
Their aim was to introduce teachers to Just Play – an OFC initiative designed to promote football and healthy living for children aged between six and 12 years – and give them guidelines on how it can be run in their schools by putting them through a series of practical sessions.
Tuaa was pleased with how everything went and believes the future of Just Play in Solomon Islands is very positive.
“This programme fits in well with the SIFF development strategy and I am happy with the enthusiasm shown by the stakeholders here,” he said.
Tuaa also commended SIFF for taking ownership of Just Play, saying that the local staff appointed by the federation to assist in the workshops will be able to facilitate the expansion of the programme to the provinces.
SIFF special projects manager Phillip Ohoto’ona was delighted to see such a positive attitude shown by the teachers who took part.
“Not only have the teachers received but they have also contributed to Just Play by sharing their views and ideas about the future of the programme in Solomon Islands,” he said. “For SIFF, this is already a sign of success.”
Ribbie Lio from Bokona Primary School took part in the course and believes Just Play will be very simple for teachers to deliver to their students and has implications beyond football.
“Just Play will help me as a teacher because its design has given me new ideas about how I can plan classes for my students,” she said. “It’s a very good programme because it brings more value to the enjoyment of children.”
William Ewing, Third Secretary of the Australian High Commission to Solomon Islands, said in his address at the closing ceremony that Just Play is an important aspect of the link between the Australian government and football.
He called on the teachers to implement the programme well because the expansion of Just Play in Solomon Islands will be modelled upon its success in Honiara.
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