The event is all about fun activities and participation, but as always Just Play Project Manager Michelle Paiti says messages promoting awareness of social issues will be delivered alongside the festivities.
“These events are a fun way to get active and learn key social messages,” Paiti shares.
At the root of the Just Play Programme is the concept of sport for development, with football the discipline adopted by the programme. However in the Cook Islands, the local football association CIFA has partnered with a number of different sporting codes in order to offer some diversity to participants.
“We encourage all children, boys and girls aged five to 13 to come to Tupapa Sports Field to take up the opportunity to try a variety of sports on offer,” Paiti says.
Rugby, cricket, athletics and the newly introduced handball, will be on offer alongside football.
CIFA has also partnered with the Cook Islands Ministry of International Affairs, with the Child and Family division lending a hand to deliver this month’s key social message of Care and Protection.
The Tupapa Village Festival is being held on Tuesday 24 February (local) from 2.30pm onwards.
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

Share