The Village Festival will see the Just Play Programme run by the Cook Islands Football Association again partner up with the Ministry of Health and other sporting codes including rugby, cricket, athletics and handball as getting active and having fun is promoted in Matavera.
“The Just Play Community Initiative provides all boys and girls with the opportunity to be physically active after school in their community,” says organiser and Just Play Project Manger for CIFA Michelle Paiti.
“Quality after school programmes are a vital part of the fabric of our communities, and we are providing a rich array of fun physical activities to children.
“We encourage all boys and girls to come to Takitumu School Field to have a go at the variety of sports on offer and urge parents to allow their kids to attend as they will be supervised, safe and physically active,” Paiti continues.
With health the social message of the month, Karen Tairea from Public Health has been invited to present to the children who attend.
Paiti says one of the overall aims of the festival is to encourage the next generation to lead long healthy lives and succeed in school and life.
“The Village Festival is a fun way to promote physical activity, learn key social messages, try different sports and give childrent the opportunity to make new friends in a safe environment.”
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play is designed for children aged six to 12 and promotes physical activity while encouraging community involvement, healthy living, gender equality and disability development.
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 on Cook Islands football visit www.cookislandsfootball.com

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