The youngsters will take part in a variety of activities related to the OFC Just Play grassroots programme and the event marks the end of the programme’s pilot phase in the Cook Islands.
Two hundred children aged eight to 10 years are expected to take to the field at the CIFA complex in Matavera from midday.
The festival will give those taking part the chance to display some of the values of Just Play promoted during the pilot phase, such as responsibility and respect, and also allows them to mix with children from other schools.
The Just Play programme in the Cook Islands is organised by project manager Michelle Paiti and the activities of the festival will be run by many of the trained facilitators who have played a major role during the pilot phase.
Most received their introduction to the programme during a training course at Matavera in March, just prior to the official launch of Just Play in the Cook Islands.
The pilot phase has run for six weeks, during which Paiti and CIFA technical development manager Jimmy Katoa made regular visits to the schools to offer support and assistance to the instructors.
Just Play is a unique FIFA-approved grassroots programme which promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was launched in Vanuatu last April and has since been introduced in Tonga, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and South Auckland in New Zealand.
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 UEFA, 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 Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com