Just Play began in October 2009, and is implemented by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in partnership with the Australian Government, UEFA and Football Federation Australia. Since it began, OFC has taken significant strides to becoming the leading organisation that uses sport for Pacific Island children’s education and development. As part of OFC’s commitment to achieving positive change
for children, OFC commissioned an external review of Just Play in 2011. This review identified the successes to date and also ways Just Play can be improved. The following pages provide an overview of: What impact is Just Play having in Pacific communities? What are the conditions needed for sport to have a lasting, positive impact on children and communities? What does research say about the role of sport in children's education and development? Just Play is a unique grassroots programme that promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement and healthy living. Just Play is designed for children aged 6-12 and is based around structured activity programmes as well as the distribution of equipment packs containing balls, cones, bibs, activity manuals and other resources that enable children to play football at anytime and in any situation. Just Play allows children the opportunity to build critical life skills through sport – ultimately creating social change in communities across the Pacific. Just Play trains local community leaders and teachers as Coaches to rural and urban communities across the Pacific region. Our work is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 6: Children’s Right to Play. Just Play was designed to promote the involvement of boys and girls in sport and their social development, and ensure a lasting impact that centres on building the capacity of teachers and community members to independently deliver quality sporting activities for children. Just play in Solomon Islands can be best described as a “Journey of discovery”. This journey started in June 2010 as one of the countries to pilot the program with 12 selected primary schools. Since then the program has grown dramatically in terms of interest & participation by kids, teachers and volunteers.
- We have reached 143 primary schools in four provinces (Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western and Honiara) since June 2009
Kids’ participation since October 2009 reached 28,447. 17,952 are boys and 10,495 are girls.
- We have conducted 15 launches/trainings in the 4 regions- Marovo region – Seghe station, Batuna school and Sombiro school – South Malaita region – Kiu School, Waisisi school & Aiarai School, North East Guadalcanal region – Ngalibiu school and Nguvia school, Honiara Region – SIFF football Academy since 2010
Just Play in numbers:
- We have also implemented 15 lots of 6 weeks program in these regions since 2010
- Since June 2009 we have trained 328 teachers and 86 community volunteers
Stories leading to positive change:
-Our relationship with local partners such as the Ministry of Education, SIFF, school authorities, relevant ministries continue to remain positive.
-Just play has provided Solomon Islands children with the opportunity to build critical life skills through sport.
-This success story has created social change in schools and communities in the Solomon Islands
-Just play is ensuring a lasting impact by building the capacity of teachers and community members to independently deliver quality sporting activities for children.
-Just play program has become a symbol of unity, fairness, promoting healthy lifestyles, progression and education in Solomon Islands.
