Australian High Com gives green light to fund North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games

The Australian High Commission office in Honiara has agreed in principle to support the TARD 2007 North Malaita Christmas Games which would be organised in late December.

The "free entry" North Malaita Christmas Games is a TARD initiative which materialised last year when it successfully organised the 2006 Christmas Games at Malu'u from December 20-23, which attracted widespread participation and public support of 59 soccer and 18 netball teams. That tournament was also sponsored by the Australian High Commission office in Honiara with a funding of SBD$3,680.

Major objectives of the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games is to help promote social interaction, unity and reconciliation, improve sporting awareness in North Malaita, build team work and leadership skills, promote self empowerment and belonging to the community, gender inclusiveness, and facilitating an activity that meets the need of youths.

Total costs for the upcoming games comprising a 7 aside soccer knockout for Men and netball for Women is around SBD$5,900.

This is the third community development project that TARD will undertake in partnership with the Australian High Commission office in Honiara with the most recent one being the Solar electrification project for Bita'ama and Sulagwalu clinics costing SBD$25,965, which was successfully implemented by TARD in June this year.

Therefore, TARD is genuinely grateful on behalf of its full membership and the North Malaita people for the continuous committment and support that the Australian Government on behalf of its people has shown to a youth developed, youth led group such as TARD.