Every Sport for Development Programme aims to help participants learn, grow, and develop using sports as the tool. Often, stories highlight the positive impact on participants but rarely focus on those who make these positive impacts possible. The story of 32-year-old Ranu Garia from Hanuabada is one such example, showcasing confidence shining through leadership, setting an example, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Ranu is a Development Officer and newly trained instructor for the Just Play Programme with the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA). Ranu, the quiet and soft-spoken gentleman from Hanuabada—the largest coastal village of the Motuan Tribe, known for producing some of the country’s best athletes in weightlifting, such as Commonwealth Champions Steven Kari and Dika Toua—has chosen a different sport to help the children in his community learn and grow.
Since joining the programme as a community volunteer, Ranu has been known as a man of few words, with a shy smile barely lifting the corners of his mouth. Newcomers often questioned if he ever spoke, and some even joked that they thought Ranu was mute.
“Ranu and I come from the same community. Growing up together, he was very gentle and shy. In every activity we attended, he would shy away or keep quiet, afraid to perform or speak out. After joining the Just Play Programme, he has transformed from his gentle personality to an outgoing person. I see that he is gaining more confidence through this programme because our job is to go out to schools, deliver sessions, and start conversations with teachers and volunteers. This programme is a motivation to us because it leads us out of our comfort zones,” says Dagu Nihara.
As a community volunteer for the Just Play Programme, Ranu conducted weekend sessions with children in his community. Every Saturday morning, Ranu and a group of other newly trained Just Play volunteers would gather children in the community and lead Health and WASH sessions.
When asked what the best part of the programme was, he replied, “It is teaching life skills, such as ‘use your voice,’ which means to speak up when you have something to say, to the children and being around the children.” These weekly interactions with children, other volunteers, and the Just Play staff marked the beginning of his journey to growing his leadership confidence.
In 2023, Ranu was employed as a Development Officer for the programme. This role required constant interaction with other staff, community volunteers, partners, and stakeholders. The more he was involved in session delivery, partnership meetings, and capacity-building trainings, the more confidence he gained. Later in 2023, Ranu was given the opportunity to attend the instructors’ training in Nadi, Fiji. This meant he would have to do more presentations in front of an audience or group of people upon his return. It was a good challenge for him; knowing his shy and soft-spoken personality, he knew he had to change to make a greater impact and lead by example.
“Change starts with you, and you have to lead by example,” concluded Ranu. Through this programme, Ranu learned to use his voice and come out of his shell, showing how his confidence has grown since he started volunteering. Just Play is a place where opportunities are given to volunteers and staff to demonstrate leadership and confidence.
This Just Play story of change was contributed by Sonia Embahe, PNGFA Just Play Programme Coordinator