The theme for the festival was helping children improve their health while also enjoying the thrill of playing football, and by all accounts it was a great success.
The participants were children aged between four and seven years old, with 17 of them living with a disability.
Vanuatu Just Play Project Manager Rorona Kalsakau says that didn’t stop a single person from enjoying the festival to the maximum.
“It was a great day for all the disabled children around Port Vila,” she says.
“I just love all these kids and felt sorry for them, but at the end of the day I think they had a great morning playing football and I want to thank their parents for their support.
“No-one got bored on Saturday. Everyone helped the disabled children to feel included and play simple football – all aimed at helping to improve health and the enjoyment of playing football,” Kalsakau describes.
During the festival partners of the Just Play Programme in Vanuatu, the Ministry of Health and Vanuatu Disability Association, gave useful information and advice on keeping safe and staying healthy.
“It has been a lovely day for our disabled children,” one of the parents, Fred Nalau, says.
“It was great to see our children being recognised and appreciated for what they did in the festival. I think it was also wonderful to see how much children could be involved in the Just Play Programme.”
Kalsakau says the overall theme of the festival is one that sticks closely with the four key Just Play messages; ‘Every child has the right to education and play’.
“Every child has the right ot play and recreation, as enshrined in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), as well as the right to sport, which is specifically contained in other international treaties,” she says.
“Sports are a fun and effective way to reach the most disadvantaged children and we are very excited about it.”
The Just Play Programme is designed and monitored by the OFC Social Responsibility department, in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission, Football Federation Australia, UEFA and UNICEF.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

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