To tie in with International Day for Persons With Disabilities, OFC invites its football communities to explore how they can make football more inclusive through their programmes as one of the suggested actions for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign.
Today Football Federation Samoa took that opportunity in celebrating the end of their 2024 This Is How We Football programme by tying it in with the 16 Days of Activism campaign and International Day for Persons With Disability through a networking event aimed at girls aged 13-18.
“We held this event today because football is an inclusive sport not only for those without disabilities, but we’re also giving the opportunity to children with disabilities to be part of our game,” explained Pelenatete Taei, Football Federation Samoa Social Responsibility Manager and acting CEO.
A total of 150 participants, including 120 girls, 25 coaches and parents with five boys, attended the networking event at Football Federation Samoa Tuanaimoto Complex. British High Commissioner to Samoa Gareth Hoar and Football Federation Samoa Women’s Committee Chair Leaula Theresa Asiata were also in attendance.
“The people involved in this event are from schools, the clubs, the disability school as well in the communities which is our Special Olympics Samoa and all our stakeholders,” explained Taei.
The following stakeholders helped bring the This Is How We Football curriculum themes to life:
- Samoan Ministry of Health spoke on the thematic area of health particularly around health choices and menstrual health and hygiene.
- Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services, spoke on the thematic area of safety, focusing on self-awareness and identifying safe spaces.
- Team Up partners NRL Samoa and Get Into Rugby Plus spoke about safeguarding and ending violence against women and girls through interactive activity which focus on the values of respect, integrity, passion, discipline and solidarity.
One event participant, Bella Maria Petana, saw the benefits of the networking event providing a platform to try new things and engage in conversations.
“I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the number of women engaging in the programmes and also building their confidence into participating in different activities, different sports as well, not just in football,” she explained
“There’s also rugby and also just breaking violence against women and even just talking about the barriers as well in the games.”
British High Commissioner to Samoa Gareth Hoar also spoke at today’s networking event, and reflected on its significance.
“Today’s event is also well-timed because it coincides with two very important global campaigns that are taking place this week. One is the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which is a global campaign to end violence. The 16 Days of Activism campaign is a campaign to end violence against women and girls and the International Day of People with Disabilities is a chance to celebrate those members of our communities and our societies.
“It’s really important that we continue to break down those barriers to entry to sport for women and girls, to make sure that those opportunities are fully inclusive and of course that there are safeguards in place to make sure everybody can enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
“Looking around today, I’m sure that that’s what I see here from the Football Federation of Samoa’s initiative. So I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Football Federation Samoa on taking and continuing this important initiative to promote football to women and young girls across the country.”
For more actions and activities during the 16 Days of Activism, check out the OFC and This Is How We Football Facebook and Instagram pages.
Photo credit: Football Federation Samoa Media