NAKAVIKA PROGRAM

Location: Nakavika Village, Cakaudrove.  Report by: Joji Liga, Sports Development Manager

Following the Train the Trainer Program at Lawaqa Park Nadroga in August, Nakavika Namosi Participat, Adre Vereivalu wasted no time in organizing his village up in the mountains of Namosi to facilitate a multi-sport tournament in the process of establishing a multi sport club in the village.

Over 100 participants of all ages attended the sports program organized at the Nakavika Primary School Grounds. Sports in rural villages in most parts of the country are played mostly be men. Rugby is the main sport. Women are under-privileged in many ways and do not enjoy the privillages men get in terms of access to participation in competitive sport.

The Nakavika Program that was conducted on Saturday 8th of October, in Namosi broke down these barriers as children, women, and the elderly converged on the grounds to enjoy a day of festivities and fun.

Competitions were organized in rugby union, volleyball and netball. Nuku High School in Serua and Nuku Village also attended the program. Coordinator Adre, said, this first time is just to create an awareness of what sport can bring to the lives of villagers and rightfully so, village elders and those watching from  the side agreed; how good it is to involve the whole family in a sports competition as such.

This is the concept of the multi-sport club. Everyone regardless of age has can be a member of the club and has every right to participate or compete in club based activities. The Fiji National Sports Commission injected a minimal sponsorship through its community assistance funding and funded equipment prizes and referee costs to run the program. Teams registered as they arrived and draws were made as people arrived. It will take a while to go beyond this level or preparedness and with exposure and experience it should get better. Forming and maintaining partnerships are a stronghold of any sports club structure.

Nakavika led the way by securing the school as a major partner in running their club successfully. The Head Teacher and teachers of the school assisted in the organization of the day’s program and assisted in the marking of the field, preparation and printing of participation certificates, use of sound system and the school facilities.

Health and wellness was incorporated into the program with the involvement of the village nurse who conducted health screening for participants. The event was an extension of the Train the Trainer Program where three months after the program, participants need to have completed a workplace assessment task involving organizing  a club community event.

I was fortunate to have witnessed the program at Nakavika and I am pleased to note that given the support displayed at the program, the concept will work wonders and provide sports and health and wellness benefits for the village.

The aim of the Fiji National Sports Commission is to establish similar clubs in villages and communities where they conduct programs. It is through such club set ups, that we can promote and develop coaching/refereeing  and competition for players, administrators and officials. Any sport is bound to improve by developing its competition base. Competition promotes growth in player numbers and coaching standards. Competition can only be organized if clubs are functioning and a huge part of the Fiji National Sports Commission’s development plans is promoting the development of clubs in rural communities – this is where the seeds of good governance in sport is planted and nurtured.

The next step according to Adre is to formalize the club constitution, structure, select executives and affiliate different sports into the club.

The rugby competition was won by Nuku, Volleyball and netball was won by Nakavika.

Sports equipment were awarded as prizes to promote more participation and build the clubs equipment inventory.