netGO launched in Vanuatu with the first Oceania Foundation Coach workshop in May, working through restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Cyclone Harold.
Netball New Zealand’s netGO programme was developed as the vehicle to deliver the Pacific Sporting Partnership (PSP), funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has been running for three years in Fiji, the Cook islands, Tonga and Samoa, and launched in Vanuatu at the start of 2020.
Netball for Life is the slogan for netGO. embracing both the desire to make netball a life-long passion, and the outcome from the programme to develop healthy lifestyles through activity and nutrition amongst young people in the Pacific.
netGO Vanuatu country co-ordinator Virginia Taravaki was excited to begin implementing the programme.
“The PSP program in Vanuatu over all is a blessing - in the sense that this allows us to spread the love of netball through to our rural schools and communities and hopefully our outer islands,” she said.
Following an adapted coach developer training delivered remotely by Ruta Tai, the former Samoa netGO Country Coordinator, Taravaki delivered her first Oceania Foundation Coach Workshop to six participants over two days.
Madeline Bau, netGO development officer in Espiritu Santo will soon be able to start delivery in her local community.
Netball is a growing sport in Vanuatu, and the Vanuatu Netball Association through PSP, will be supporting this growth with training of new coaches, and starting new netball competitions.
“A big part in the PSP program that helps the netball development in Vanuatu is providing health awareness through partnerships with health stakeholders to address the rise of NCDs among young people,” said Taravaki.
Partnerships with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and the Vanuatu Family Health Association are being formalised to deliver workshops and awareness material to netball participants.
Netball New Zealand is excited to have Vanuatu Netball as part of the netGO family, and look forward to watching the growth and development of netball in the region.