An Australian Sport Outreach Program (ASOP) in Vanuatu has received recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Originally developed by the Vanuatu Football Federation 15 years ago, the children’s football program is now known as the Just Play program with sponsorship from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

The program has been so successful in contributing to the education, health and gender equity of the local community that it’s been recognised internationally with the IOC’s Sport and Sustainable Development award. Introduced by the IOC in 2009, the award recognises the best initiatives taken by sports associations in the area of sustainable development.

Just Play is a social development program funded by the Australian Government (AusAid and the ASC) and UEFA delivered to 11 countries. This program promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement, healthy living and gender equality.

The program 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 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. This program, originally designed to be implemented during six weeks, is run by the community all year round.

In mid July the program reached 100,000 children in the pacific region. The 100,000th child is a nine year old young girl from Pipisu primary school, South Malaita, Solomon Islands.

Recent review findings show that children who participate in Just Play are motivated to go to school, develop positive citizenship skills and demonstrate strong leadership within their communities.

‘The outcomes and influence of the Just Play program on their school work is obvious, I can notice it. It’s amazing to see Just play and its components, a great impact on school and young children’s lives, socially, physically and mentally. Most of these children’s will become better citizens. Things taught at home are enforced at the soccer field.’ Ativeniana Pomana, school principal, interview- Tonga 2011.