Eighteen (18) coordinators of Just Play are currently attending a five-day capacity building training in Honiara held at the Rock Heaven Inn since Monday.
The participants convened in Honiara traveling from Malaita, Temotu, Ulawa, Choiseul, Vela la vela and Isabel to attend the annual event for coordinators before the rollout of the Just Play programme in their regions for 20202.
The capacity-building workshop will help the coordinators to develop a shared understanding of what it means to be a coordinator with the Just Play programme in the Solomon Islands, define roles and responsibilities of a coordinator, importance of reporting, strengthen understanding of monitoring & evaluation processes and procedures, and enhance the collection of programming data, quality of reporting and the collection of stories of change.
Just Play is an award-winning Sport for Development programme using the power of football to improve the lives of children aged 6-18-years throughout the Pacific.
Recognises the important role that sport can play in supporting the holistic development of children and adolescents,
This sport-based programme the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) uses as a critical intervention alongside football development at regional and national levels.
Malaita based coordinator, Danny Belo said the workshop is refreshing as it will enable the coordinators to carry out Just Play activties in their respective regions.
“This training is very important for us because it will prepare everybody to carry out their activities in the provinces,” he said.
“We have learned a lot of helpful tips from each other and I believe all the coordinators are ready to implement the Just Play programme this year.”
Among the male-dominant coordinators, lone female coordinator Nellie Siope from Choiseul province stated that she is ready to take on the challenge as a leader in her province.
“I am happy to come to build my capacity and I’ll go back to my province to develop our children through this programme,” she stated.
“Apart from being a Just Play coordinator, I am also the Sports coordinator for Choiseul so I will incorporate this in my overall work plan for this year.”
Through the OFC Just Play Programme children and adolescents are empowered to advocate as agents for change, supporting the development of positive behaviour practices and the enhancement of resilience among their peers and community.
Programme seeks to address the following core areas:
• Child Survival— by reducing the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, and engaging children and adolescents on a range of health issues;
• Education— by facilitating the development of important life skills applicable both on and off the field, including the acceptance of rules, decision-making, teamwork, respect and play;
• Gender Equality— by changing perceptions towards women and girls, and creating pathways to empower of women and girls to realize their human right;
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)—By supporting the development of positive WASH behaviours and practices in schools, communities and in times of emergencies;
• Child Protection and Social Inclusion—By challenging harmful social norms and stereotypes, and creating pathways to empower those disadvantaged on the basis of their gender, identity or ability to realize their human rights; and
• Emergency— by building resilience and supporting the emotional recovery of children and adolescents following natural disasters and conflict
Implemented by the OFC Social Responsibility Department alongside key partners the Australian Government, New Zealand Government, UEFA Foundation for Children, Football Federation Australia and UNICEF.
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