Programme spreads across Fiji

Just Play was launched in Fiji last year and has so far been introduced in Suva, Rewa, Nasinu, Navua and Tailevu North.
Yassir Janiff, Just Play project manager for the Fiji Football Association, is pleased with its impact and is looking forward to the implementation of the programme in other areas.
“The next cycle is from July to December and will see Just Play being rolled out to the western and northern zones,” he says.
Janiff says the association has received a wealth of positive feedback about the progress of Just Play.
“Teachers have reported that children are becoming more disciplined while participating in the programme. The health aspects of the programme have also improved childrens’ eating habits and have encouraged fruits and natural juice drinks to be promoted in school canteens.”
Gender equity is an important aspect of Just Play and Janiff says this has been borne out in the case of Fiji.
“Girls participation in football has massively grown with almost 40 per cent of the Just Play participants being female,” he says. “Just Play offers the opportunity for everyone to play football, regardless of ability. Gender balance in games provides the opportunity for girls to participate with boys and teaches the boys to respect the girls both on and off the field.”
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 and healthy living.
It was first 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.
OFC is working closely with UEFA and 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 over a three-year period between 2009 and 2012.
The confederation has also been working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities and has launched the new initiative in Samoa and Fiji.