Just Play was launched in Vanuatu on the island of Malekula in 2009 and today thousands of children from Malekula, Port Vila and Santo are enjoying the programme, a FIFA-approved initiative that promotes physical activity for primary-aged youth while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.
George Regenvanu, Just Play project manager for the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF), met with Pierre Gabetta, the provincial education officer for the ministry of education, this month and the government official said he was pleased to see Just Play developing quickly in the primary schools of the country’s three largest regions.
“I am very happy to see Just Play growing so fast,” Gabetta stated.
“I think Just Play gives children a satisfying, enjoyable way to develop their own talents. Through personal effort they can become good at something they’re interested in. Doing something well makes them feel good about themselves but, equally importantly, it teaches them about the process of how to improve and work more effectively.”
Regenvanu offered his thanks to Gabetta for the ministry’s support of Just Play and for allowing VFF to carry out the programme amongst the primary schools of Vanuatu.
The project manager has a medical background and is therefore acutely aware of the many health benefits of Just Play.
“This programme helps the children to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints as well as helping control weight and reduce fat. It also prevents or delays high blood pressure, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression,” he said.
The meeting between VFF and the government was followed a few days later with a Just Play festival at Fresh Water Field in Port Vila that featured over 200 children. A range of non-government organisations – including the Women’s Affairs and Rights Department, Save the Children’s Fund and National Disability Organisation – were also present at the festival to raise awareness about their respective causes.
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was first launched in Tonga and has since been introduced in Vanuatu, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Auckland, New Zealand.
OFC is working closely with UEFA and 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 over a three-year period between 2009 and 2012.
The confederation has also been working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities and has launched the new initiative in Samoa and Fiji.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

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