Western Province and Malaita Province have been established with SIFF Just Play programs, and are currently up and running with activities successfully for this year.
Under the SIFF Social Responsibility Department, it continues to strive and focus on character building targeting young children through football.
This year the football component partnered with the WASH program to run training which contributed towards children’s hygiene and health. Through the training, it provides basic information about healthy lifestyles and how children can be looked after from all forms of abuse – and it has made a significant impact on children’s daily actions in meeting the standard of personal hygiene.
SIFF Just Play Coordinator Gabriel Riotarau stresses the importance the program delivers under the Sports 4 Development (S4D).
“The department continues with the aim and focuses on character building and change perception on how boys and girls can play, work and do things together in a safe and healthy environment,” Riotarau stated.
“Foremost, for children to build positive characters that can empower them to be active and practice equality between the genders.
Designed to create and retain long-term benefits for society through football the Just Play ‘Sports 2 Life’ pilot program this year has been dubbed a success through its outreach.
In Malaita Province, the current Just Play locations with activities for 6 – 12-year-olds and 13 years old plus are Kiu Village, West Are’are region, Atori Eastern region, and Faumamanu Eastern region.
Valapata village, Vella La Vella in the Western Province has also benefited through the programme for 13 years old plus.
Meanwhile, for the remainder of the year, the SIFF Just Play programme anticipates hosting three festivals at this year’s Universal Children’s Day Celebrations on October 11th, International Handwashing Day on October 14th, and the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls which falls on November 25th in Honiara.
–SIFF MEDIA
