Right To Play training programme opens in Accra

Accra, May 8, GNA - Right To Play, West And Francophone Africa, (WAFA) an international Non-Governmental Organization has opened its regional training meeting in Accra as part of its efforts to further pursue its core values.

The training regimen seeks to map out strategic programs to serve as the meeting point for all country programs planned for the next three years using sports and other activities for children.

It will also consider the effective use of trained teachers and community coaches for the purposes of building essential life skills in children and youth and promoting the adoption of healthy attitudes and behaviours related to HIV and other preventable diseases.

It will also take a critical look at the effective way of using play to learn in all five countries across the sub- region of Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Rwanda with its unique innovations and success based on local context.

The programme will finalize a major proposal for a regional program, whilst celebrating its successes and achievements in the past year, sharing best practices and building team spirit.

Dr Dennis Bright, Regional Director, Right To Play (WAFA) pointed out: “Right To Play belongs to a global movement that considers sports and play as powerful tools for developmental needs that has to be harnessed globally.

“We have evidence that through sports and play activities on the play ground, children and youth acquire vital life skills like empathy, self-esteem and leadership etc that are seldom taught in classrooms,” he added.

Dr Bright revealed that life skills are necessary to complement academic work in the development of children as well as preparing them for their future roles as responsible citizens of their countries.

The newly appointed Country Director of Right To Play, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu said the organisation keeps changing its strategies by being more vibrant, creative and innovative to address community related needs.

Right To Play, which since 2000 has been using sports and play programs to promote opportunities for development, as a rule aligns its programs to national priorities and therefore works in close partnership with government agencies and other development partners including donors, UN agencies and local organizations.

It also also uses sports and play in promoting health, child rights and protection, advancing gender and peace agendas, and empowering young people as well as operate through regional and country offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America.

Its mission is to improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sports and play for development and peace.

The program which ends on May 17 has drawn participants from United Kingdom, Canada, Liberia, Benin, Rwanda, Mali and Ghana.

GNA