POSHU SPORTS PROJECT

Team sports are important for young people in remote villages as it teaches them discipline. Teams representing male and female, playing against other like-sized communities that brought recognition and praise in the past. Young warriors travel outside the village to play against tribes that they previously were at war with. This is a major initiative for peace.

Since 2009, POSHU has supplied netballs and footballs to teams of young men and women in the villages where we operate English and Math Classes. We also donate balls to their local Primary and Secondary Schools. Our balls have been used regularly in inter-district sports events, and at inter-school sports carnivals. Many schools and youth teams cannot afford their own balls in these impoverished communities. With the balls, we also supply pumps, whistles and inflation pins so the balls can be maintained.

Most POSHU English, Math and Sewing Classes end with a quick game of netball, giving the women and girls a chance to relax and enjoy some exercise.

“We women work hard from early in the morning until after dark. We never knew exercise for fun. But now we play netball and we love it so much!“

Each year, we allocate around $400AUD for the balls, buying them in the towns and then transporting them to the remote villages where they are received with cheers and great excitement.

The whole village turns up to watch their young people play football and netball, even though the goal is made of bamboo and string.