The launch took place on Wednesday and joining President Chung in attendance were the minister of youth and sports Hon. Mark Brown, secretary of education Sharyn Paio, OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas, school principals, community group leaders and recently-trained Just Play facilitators.
Michelle Paiti, Just Play project manager for the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA), welcomed the guests before CIFA President Lee Harmon spoke of the importance of the programme and acknowledged those who have assisted and given their support to get Just Play underway in the Cook Islands.
President Chung also took to the stand and talked of the alarming social issues facing many Pacific Island nations and how sport can make a difference by helping educate the region’s young children. He says the Just Play programme is an ideal tool for social development as it teaches the importance of rules, boundaries, respect and fair play.
During his own speech, Minister Brown asked the children of Takitumu whether they thought it was important to go to school and get a good eductation and was met with a resounding yes. He went on to explain how important it is for a young person to be active and healthy so they are able to attend school every day.
He added that he thinks the Just Play programme is a great initiative and says the government are happy to support it.
Following the speeches, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) was signed between OFC, CIFA, partners of the programme, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The children of Takitumu and the newly-trained facilitators then treated the guests to some Just Play action before equipment was formally presented to representatives from the schools and community groups involved in the pilot phase.
“The launch was a great success,” Paiti says. “Both the children and the facilitators are eager to get the pilot phases started.
“The Just Play initiative has generated a lot of support which will help to sustain it here in the Cook Islands and we look forward to a successful programme.”
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, Samoa, Tahiti, Solomon Islands and South Auckland in New Zealand.
Next on the agenda are Fiji and Papua New Guinea 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 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