Fiji is outspoken on climate change issues. It’s population is existentially threatened by climate change. Fiji is also a sports-crazy nation. People love sports in Fiji and football itself has a long and healthy tradition. Spirit of Football aims to connect climate change and sport to encourage Fijians to come together to talk about the impacts of a changing climate on their lives and the games they love to play.
Accordingly, Spirit of Football’s team will be running workshops with our partner Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) that foster discussion about fairplay, gender equality and climate with both youth and women in the Fijian fishing communities and also in schools in Fiji. We aim too, with the help of the Fijian Football Association, to explore how football is playing its part to help make a positive social difference in Fijian society and also how it can do even more.
The Ball in Fiji is being supported the German Embassy of New Zealand and the Swedish Postcode Foundation.
THE BALL WITH THE FIJI LOCALLY MANAGED MARINE AREA:
• 8th of June – World Ocean Day at a school workshop in a village near Suva
• 14th of June – Workshop with Youth in Tavua Village
• 15/16th of June – Workshop with women in the fishing industry in Nasama Village in Sigatoka
THE BALL WITH THE FIJI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION:
• 9th of June – The Ball will be presented at the FFA Congress in Suva
• 9th to 18th of June – The Ball at 2023 Digicel FA Cup Tournament in Suva
After Fiji, The Ball will visit the Kiribati Islands from 19th to 29th of June. Kiribati is one of the world’s countries most affected by climate change. Then The Ball will be in New Zealand and Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
