After Tropical Cyclone Pam caused considerable damage to Lycee Louis Antoine De Bougainville, the coordinators of the Just Play Programme in Luganville decided to hold a fundraiser to contribute to its rebuilding.
A Just Play festival involves partners from different government and certain institutions that involve kids learning in sports, especially in encouraging kids of all genders to play football in their communities.
The fundraising festival held last Friday at La Plage Park welcomed the Police Crime Prevention Unit, whose key message was to be vigilent with their safety and belongings in the wake of the cyclone.
“People will start theiving when they run out of food and we must always work together with the police to protect our communities,” one of the crime prevention officers shared.
Festival coordinator Dephany Naliupis said the theme of the festival was “Sports restores Smiles”.
“No matter how devestating it may be after a natural calamity, we should rise up with the sun each morning and remember that together we can unite and reach out to the needy,” Naliupis shared.
“Let us join together with open hands to revive and restore individual childrens’ hearts which have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Pam with peace, joy and happiness.”
About Just Play
The Just Play programme is a sport for development programme that helps children to grow, learn and explore through sport. Just Play gives a child a ball, a coach and a safe place to play. The programme shows children how to have fun with other children, be physically active and become confident in their abilities. Through the integration of social messages, Just Play helps children to develop healthy lifestyles habits, encourages gender equality and leaders in the community, promotes social inclusion and insists on sport for all.
OFC has worked closely with UEFA, the Australian Government – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – Football Federation Australia and UNICEF to implement the programme across the Pacific. It was launched in Tonga and is now also running in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
For more information on the programme please visit: justplayofc.org
For more on Vanuatu football visit www.vanuafoot.vu.

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