‘Just Play’ aims to encourage the sport ‘Football’ together with inculcating healthy lifestyles and spread social awareness among the children between the age of 6-12 years
Text: Shalet James Photos: Various Sources
With All India Football Federation joining hands with Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), Just Play initiative has kick started its operations in Kochi, Kerala. A memorandum of understanding was signed recently for the sport development program, ‘Just Play’ after FFA Chairman Steven Lowy and CEO David Gallop met with their counterparts at the All India Football Federation, President Praful Patel and General Secretary Kushal Das. In an exclusive chat with FWD Business, Franck Castillo, CEO of OFC Foundation and Kieran Lilley, International and Government Relations Coordinator of FFA opened up on their plans for Just Play initiative and how the program will benefit India.
How is Just Play initiative beneficial for the younger generation?
Franck Castillo: Just Play was started in 2009 and the program is exclusively for the children between the ages of 6-12 years. The main objective of the event is to introduce children to the sport ‘football’ and also to create awareness among the younger generation on gender equality, hygiene, sanitation and other social issues.
Kieran Lilley: Our sole aim is to use football as a medium to educate young kids on healthy lifestyles and various social issues. Through the program, boys and girls are taught to interact with each other in a respectful and positive manner.
What inspired you to select the city of Kochi to introduce Just Play?
Franck Castillo: Kerala has people who are really passionate about playing football or watching the game. So, we were very much interested to introduce this program in Kerala. All India Football Federation was very receptive to the program and later The Just Play Pilot was launched in Kochi by Kerala Football Association (KFA) in partnership with Government of Kerala. At Kochi, 5 schools and 23 teachers have been selected for the program and the training for the students has been started according to the curriculum.
Kieran Lilley: Kochi is the first city outside the Pacific region and first in Asia to have been selected for implementing the project through the Australian government. The expansion of the program to other states will be initiated by AIFF in partnership with FFA, the Government of Australia, OFC, state governments and private sponsors. But future plans would be based on the success of Kerala. Just Play has already a succeeded in eleven countries.
Tell us more about this wonderful initiative and how you plan to implement it in India.
Franck Castillo: Just Play program is implemented in Schools. Each school receives Just Play equipment, as well as the Just Play Guide with monitoring and evaluation tools as part of the program. Just Play equipment kits usually include: 4 balls, 8 bibs in 2 different colours, 6 cones, 10 markers, 1 pump, 1 whistle and 1 bag. Each school receives four to eight kits depending on the number of classes involved.
Kieran Lilley: Principal of schools is invited to involve female teachers as coaches to demonstrate their leadership capacity. Then, the teachers engage children in weekly sessions based on the Just Play curriculum. Teachers are fully trained by Just Play Instructors to train the kids to the best way possible. The program also focuses to encourage girls to be part of Just Play.
How does the Just Play team in Kerala works?
Franck Castillo: The Just Play team in Kerala consists of a Project Manager and four instructors who are trained in country by OFC/FFA. Project Managers would be appointed for each Indian state that the program expands to and will receive training on Project Management, Monitoring Evaluation and Communications.
Kieran Lilley: The initiative focuses on building human, organizational as well as institutional capacity.
What are your future plans for Just Play Program?
Franck Castillo: We are planning to finish the pilot phase in Kerala by the end of October 2016 after which the impact will be document and presented to all major key stakeholders. The lessons learned during the pilot phase will also be presented to other stakeholders for the expansion of the program.
Kieran Lilley: It is at this stage that the program will be linked with the FIFA under 17 world cup.
Expansion Plans of Just Play Program in India
- To enhance local ownership, by involving direct (children, teachers) as well as indirect beneficiaries (parents, wider community members).
- Supporting the delivery, management and expansion of the Just Play program by building the capacity of Just Play teams and Regional Football Associations in India as well as the All India Football Association.
- Developing broad community interest and ownership in the program; and developing private industry partners in the region and at country level to support program activities.
- Engaging with ministries of education in every Indian region to integrate Just Play into the physical education curriculum.