North Malaita Christmas Games – 2007

Theme: Exposing our rural youth talents through sports

To’abaita Authority for Research & Development (TARD) Report

2007 Soccer winners (Green Snails) 2007Netball runner-ups (Dry Kaibia)

Proudly sponsored by the Australian High Commission in Honiara

Malu’u School Sports Ground

December 17 – 19, 2007
North Malaita, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands

Compiled by:
Mr Exsley Taloiburi
TARD Project Coordinator
University of Tasmania, Australia
Phone: +61 437642032
Email: tar_development@yahoo.com
Website: http://toabaita-authority.blogspot.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The To’abaita Authority for Research and Development (TARD), youth

initiated, youth led volunteer organisation would like to sincerely acknowledge
the following authorities and individuals for their genuine contribution in
ensuring that this rural annual community sports development initiative was
successfully implemented in North Malaita. This has been the second
consecutive year for TARD to coordinate the North Malaita free Christmas
Games in partnership with the Australian High Commission office in Honiara
after a very successful tournament in December 2006.

1) The Australian High Commission office in Honiara (Solomon Islands)

for their continuous trust and confidence in TARD to sponsor the
second consecutive North Malaita Christmas Games with a total
funding of SB$4,500.00 inclusive of both the games and a planned
coaching workshop.

2) Ms Anthea Blaikie (Second Secretary) and Ms Gabrielle Stewart

(former Third Secretary), both staff at the Australian High Commission
Post in Honiara, for their collective influence and recommendation to
push this project application forward for funding approval. TARD is also
thankful to Ms Blaikie for availing her time to be present during the
opening ceremony of the 2007 Games as well as spend another extra
day at Malu’u. Her very friendly character in mingling with the village
people at Malu’u during the games was very inspirational, as conveyed
to TARD by certain village elders and chiefs in North Malaita.

3) Mr Lenny Konamauri, Chairperson of the TARD 2007 sports organizing

committee and his support team comprising students in Fiji, Honiara,
Australia and elsewhere who have offered their time and effort
voluntarily to ensure the success of this tournament.

4) The Arnon Atomea Malu’u Community High School committee, staff

and parents for allowing TARD to use its facilities including the soccer
field, netball court, classrooms for accommodation, water supply and
so forth to host the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games. This has
been the second time for Malu’u to host this sports initiative.

5) The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)

personnel as well as the Solomon Islands Police Force at Malu’u
station for their assistance in terms of security throughout the games.
TARD is also grateful to the RAMSI team for providing accommodation
support for Ms Anthea Blaikie and for other forms on help to the TARD
organisers.

6) Several rural individuals and groups who have assisted in the games
are also acknowledged. These include the girls dancing group from
Gwaunasu’u Village, the provider of the DJ system (Mr. Akwasia at
Taba’a), the cultural group from Cana, Gwaunasu’u youths who
assisted in ground and stage preparation, and the invited guests.

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1.0. PROJECT NARRATIVE SUMMARY
1.1. Introduction
The project application for the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games was
drafted by TARD and submitted to the Australian High Commission office in
Honiara in September 2007.

The proposal was submitted as an application request for funds amounting to

a total of SB$4,500.00 to be allocated for cash prizes and other logistical
expenses during the second ever free-of-charge North Malaita 2007
Christmas Games and a proposed sports coaching workshop in partnership
with a Catholic volunteer organisation in New Zealand known as ‘Mahitahi’.

As a result, funding confirmation was approved by the Australian High

Commission and arrangements were made for the official presentation of the
cheque in early December 2007. The brief hand over ceremony was
undertaken on Tuesday 11th December 2007 at the High Commission office
Gabrielle Stewart and Exsley Taloiburi in the presence of local media and
other TARD members.

Peter Fairamoa (TARD Chairman) receiving the cheque from Gabrielle Stewart

The total funding given to the 2007 Christmas games by the Australian High
Commission was SB$4,500.00. From this amount, SB$3,500 was allocated
for the Christmas games whilst SB$1,000 was set aside for a proposed Sports
Coaching Workshop in partnership with Mahitahi. However, due to some
reasons that were beyond our capacity the coaching workshop was later
cancelled. As a result that SB$1,000 allocation for the workshop was retired to
the Australian High Commission office in Honiara and only the SB$3,500 for
the games was utilised.

1.2. Project location

The 2007 Christmas games were held at Malu’u School Sports ground. This
project was targeted towards communities within the North Malaita and
Lau/Baelelea Constituencies (refer to Figures 1 and 2).

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 Map of Solomon Islands showing Malaita Province (Circled)

Location of the North Malaita region (Circled) on Malaita Island

1.3. The problem TARD was trying to address

Christmas period is a festive season where North Malaita people who reside
outside the region usually go back to their respective villages and meet
relatives. Annually, this season is always celebrated by rural community
dwellers with sporting events attracting teams and spectators from both the
North Malaita and Lau/Baelelea Constituencies. This is the only time of the
whole year that the villages will be packed since most people only return
home to participate in the Christmas Games.

However, in the past whenever a club or and individual organizes soccer or

netball tournaments for prizes, participating teams have to pay a considerable
sum of money for entry fees. This was not a problem in the past since rural
people can easily buy food and other essential needs at a lower price. But
after the ethnic tension, which really affected people from North Malaita in
many ways, money is very difficult for people to get and as a result the spirit

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of interacting through sports has declined drastically with only a few
community teams who can afford the entry fees in order to participate in
sporting tournaments. This has led to the reduction of social interaction
amongst people and lower the sporting ability of upcoming youths to show
case their talents.

Therefore, the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games was not to raise money
towards our benefit but purposely 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 supporting an activity that meets the
need of youths. The 2007 Games theme was “exposing our rural youth talents
through sports”.

These two youths selling ice blocks to make extra money at the games

Moreover, with the free entry more community youth sporting teams, both in
Soccer for men and Netball for women, would be attracted to showcase their
sporting talents which can achieve self confidence and equal participation
from the whole community in North Malaita without regard to background or
status. As a result interaction among people, which rarely happens throughout
the year, would be high.

1.4. Objectives of the games

The primary goals and anticipated outcomes of the North Malaita 2007
Christmas Games were:
1) To aware the general community of North Malaita and Solomon Islands
about the strong focus and commitment of Australia’s approach to work
closely with young people on community projects that meet the needs

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 of youths both men and women. The expected result was that it would
fulfil the assistance goals of the donor and would also aware people
about the good work that Australia is doing in the country to achieve
community wellbeing.

2) To build confidence and trust in regard to project networking and

partnership between TARD and donors such as the Australian High
Commission. The expected result was that such collective cooperation
would set a clear pathway of how different donors/organisations can
put their efforts together in partnership with a local group to channel
much needed assistance and expertise to the rural communities in
Solomon Islands.

3) To allow people within the North Malaita and Lau/Baelelea

Constituencies to form soccer and netball teams and come together on
the set date and interact through sports without paying any entry fees.
The expected implication was that it would promote sporting
awareness, unity and reconciliation, and appreciation of the genuine
efforts of donors.

4) To promote the development of sports within the North Malaita region

by encouraging dissolved clubs who are already dead to participate in
the games and coaching workshop. The projected output was that it
would enhance equal and active participation within the community,
promote a sense of belonging to the community, inclusiveness, and
self empowerment thus would lead to less crime amongst youths.

5) To enable people to sell their farm produces and other cooked foods
for free at the tournament so that they can earn money. This would be
helpful to the disadvantaged and under-resourced people as it brought
important income that can assist with other necessary needs for their
families.

These women are selling local fresh fruit produces for extra income at the games

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1.5. How TARD implemented the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games
The To’abaita Authority for Research and Development (TARD) student/youth
volunteer Group was the overall coordinator of the project.

The commentary box being decorated for the opening ceremony on 17/12/07

About a month before the tournament, awareness materials and invitation

letters from TARD were forwarded to all village sporting clubs within the
boundary from Kwainafala River in Malaita Provincial ward 6 to Kwai River in
ward 9. These four provincial wards are incorporated into two national
constituencies namely; North Malaita and Lau/Baelelea. Different media
outlets in Honiara were also utilised to aware North Malaita people who are
residing in Honiara to become informed of the proposed Christmas Games
through both online, print and the radio.

L-R: Team reps picking the fixtures; Gwaunasu’u girls dancing group get ready

During a week before the tournament, arrangements for on site

accommodation for far-away teams at the Malu’u classrooms and logistical

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arrangement for Anthea Blaikie to travel to Malu’u to witness the games’
opening ceremony were finalized.

The soccer field, netball ground, and commentary stage were prepared on
15th and 16th December 2007 by several TARD members who were already in
North Malaita during that week with the support of youths from Gwaunasu’u
Village. Registration for participation in the games commenced on Monday
morning (17/12/07) and closed at 10.30am when fixtures were picked and the
teams get ready for Anthea’s arrival from Auki.

The Cana cultural group which paraded invited guests to the stage

The Australian High Commission representative to the opening of the North

Malaita 2006 Christmas Games, Ms Anthea Blaikie, travelled from Honiara to
Auki on 17th December. She was transported to Malu’u by the Community
Sector Program (CSP) vehicle. Her accommodation on the night of December
17 and 18 was facilitated by RAMSI personnel at Malu’u.

Curious spectators including both old and young who witnessed the games opening

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The official opening ceremony of the games began around 12 midday on
Monday 17th December, as anticipated, with speeches, team parade, and
entertainment from a girl’s dancing group from Gwaunasu’u Village and the
Cana men’s cultural dancing group. Speeches were delivered by the
Australian High Commission representative Anthea Blaikie, RAMSI
representative, TARD project leader, President of the North Malaita Football
Association, and North Malaita Education Authority representative.

Australian High Commission rep Ms Anthea Blaikie delivering her speech during the
games opening ceremony

During intervals the crowd and invited delegates were entertained by a rural
contemporary dancing group which consists of girls from the Loina Primary
School in ward 9. A cash incentive was awarded to the best team in the
parade for both soccer and netball, which was won by the Island Souvenir
boy’s team from Basakana Island and Dry Kaibia girl’s netball team from the
Walo area respectively.

Part of the teams that paraded for soccer and netball at the 2007 Games opening

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Games kicked off in the afternoon with a curtain raiser shot on goal by Ms
Anthea Blaikie. Soccer and netball matches begun on Day 1 (December 17)
with a total registration of 33 soccer and 7 netball teams from the North
Malaita and Lau/Baelelea Constituencies. Fortunately, netball games for
women were just completed at the end of Day 1 whilst soccer continued until
Day 3 (December 19).

The curtain raiser as Anthea boots the ball into the goal to officially open the games

During the whole tournament (3 days), TARD ensured to provide free

accommodation at the Malu’u classrooms and food for far-away teams that
participated in the games. This was made available from funding by the
Australian High Commission office in Honiara.

At the end of the tournament, the winning teams are as follows:

Soccer:
Position Team Name Prizes awarded
First Green Snails (Bita’ama $600 cash plus TARD Trophy
area, Ward 7)
Second Columbia (Malu’u area, $400 cash
Ward 8)
Third Aurafu (Darawarau area, $300 cash
Ward 8)
Best Island Souvenir (Basakana $50 cash
uniform Island, Ward 8)
prize
Total $1,350.00

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Netball:
Position Team Names Prizes awarded
First Arao Girls (Folotana area, $300 cash plus TARD trophy
Ward 6)
Second Dry Kaibia (Walo area, Ward 7) $200 cash
Third Columbia girls (Malu’u area, $100 cash
Ward 8)
Best Dry Kaibia $50
uniform
Total $650.00

The two soccer grand finalists, Green Snails (yellow) and Columbia (red)

The soccer winners (left) and the netball third prize winners (right)

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2.0. SUCCESSES & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE TOURNAMENT

The North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games, kindly sponsored by the Australian
High Commission office in Honiara was another very successful sporting
event after the 2006 free Christmas Games.

2.1. High turn-out of sporting teams and spectators

A total of 33 men’s soccer and 7 women netball teams participated in the free
North Malaita Christmas Games which was organized by TARD at the Malu’u
Community High School playing grounds from December 17 – 19, 2007. This
is considerably higher than normal tournaments usually organised at Malu’u
whereby teams have to pay entry fees.

Part of turnout crowd that witnessed the games at Malu’u in December 2007

Also, there was great enthusiasm amongst people towards the games
because it was organized by a group of volunteer university students,
something that has never been seen before in North Malaita. Teams that
participated in the TARD Games came from both the Lau/Baelelea and North
Malaita Constituencies, extending offshore and to the highlands.

Moreover, the three day tournament has attracted a crowd of more than ten
thousand spectators, supporters, market vendors and players to Malu’u
Station. The spectators were mainly from the To’abaita and Baelelea regions.
Massive turnout of teams and spectators resulted in a very successful
tournament and dissemination of the goals and objectives of TARD as a
student volunteer body to facilitate community development in working closely
with rural dwellers.

2.2. Public support

The North Malaita 2007 Christmas games has acquired the full blessing and
moral support of the rural population in To’abaita and Baelelea regions,
including the North Malaita house of Chiefs. This was evident during the
whole tournament where rural youths and people willingly offer their volunteer

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assistance to TARD in specific areas such designing the banner, brushing the
playing grounds, constructing the stage, commentary support, refereeing and
umpiring support, and other logistical support to successfully complete the
games.

A group photo of the entire membership of the North Malaita House of Chiefs who
came to show their support to TARD during the games in Malu’u

During the opening ceremony authorities including the North Malaita

Education representative, President of the North Malaita Football Association,
RAMSI rep and the Australian High Commission representative spoke highly
of the initiative by TARD in initiating the Christmas games as a way of
facilitating unity through sports.

In addition, the police at Malu’u also showed moral support to the games by
allocating several police personnel to the tournament for security purposes.
The games ran and ended smoothly without complaints or criminal activities.

2.3. Contribution to the rural community

One of the initial goals of the North Malaita 2007 Christmas Games was to
give back to the community and that was achieved in various ways throughout
the games.

Firstly, the ten thousand or so people that flocked Malu’u station during the
four day tournament was beneficial to small business owners in the area.
Besides that people were also allowed to sell their vegetables, fruits, cakes,
and so forth to people who came to witness the games without asking them to
pay any levies, as practiced from previous tournaments. As a result, the
TARD games at has enabled business holders and other people to earn
income during the games.

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Secondly, in our appreciation towards the Malu’u Community High School
committee and staff for allowing their facilities to be used for the games TARD
donated $100 to Malu’u School during the prize presentation ceremony.

Women selling their various fresh produces and cooked foods for income at the games

“In summary, the second consecutive TARD North Malaita

2007 Christmas Games was as equally successful as the 2006
Christmas Games. The reason is that both games are well
supported by a team of hard working individuals from the
Australian High Commission office in Honiara, TARD student
group, community members in North Malaita and other
authorities. The games highlighted a perfect picture of how a
community or region can be united, with the help of aid
donors, in trying to achieve sustainable development.”

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3.0. BREAKDOWN OF THE 2007 GAMES EXPENSES

The total funding provided to TARD for both the Games and the Coaching
Workshop was SB$4,500.00.

Below is a summary of the expenditure breakdown of the SB$3,500.00

funding allocated for the 2007 North Malaita Christmas Games alone which
was held at the Malu’u Sports ground from December 17 -19, 2007 (Please
refer to attached receipts in Appendix).

The SB$1,000.00 initially allocated for the Sports Coaching Workshop which
was eventually cancelled would be retired in full to the Australian High
Commission office in Honiara with this report.

Description of expenses Receipt numbers Total Cost

(SB$)
Soccer first prize 23 600.00
Soccer second prize 24 400.00
Soccer third prize 25 300.00
Soccer uniform parade winner’s prize 14 50.00
Netball first prize 20 300.00
Netball second prize 21 200.00
Netball third prize 22 100.00
Netball uniform parade winner’s prize 19 50.00
Food and consumable costs for TARD 12, 9, 26, 60,
organising committee and 0033860, 0089594, 570.00
participating teams from Dec 17-19 0089592, 0003888,
2007 0033825
3 tonne Truck hire costs for whole day 8 400.00
on 15 & 16 December 2007 during
games preparation stage
PA and DJ system hire for 3 days 13 100.00
Hire of Malu’u School facilities for 3 27 100.00
days
Cana Men’s cultural dancing group 18 100.00
costs
Gwaunasu’u girls dancing group and 17 100.00
garlanding costs
Invitation letters and flyers printing 071745, 7 130.00
costs
Total 3,500.00
Sports Coaching Workshop
allocation to be retired to the =======


1,000.00
Australian High Commission
office
TOTAL 4,500.00

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APPENDIX (RECEIPTS OF EXPENSES BREAKDOWN)

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