THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — More than 400 primary school students in the central province joined the Fun Football and Life Skills Festival – a community based football programme – at the art centre on January 12.

The event, which was organised by the provincial Department of Education and Training and the Football for All in Việt Nam (FFAV) project, officially kicked off a series activities in 2018.

Kids took part in painting competitions and quizzes, a fun football match and musical performances. All paintings drawn by kids were on show during the one-day festival in Huế.  

According to FFAV, parents will be invited to support the festival and life-skills activities in the coming years.

The FFAV project, funded by the Football Association of Norway, won the NGO and Individual Category at the Dream Asia Awards 2017, presented by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The project was established to help build the central province as a model for community football development in Việt Nam.

According to general secretary of Việt Nam Football Federation, Lê Hoài Anh, FFAV has made a great contribution to the football movement in the province and the whole country after 14 years of operation in Thừa Thiên-Huế.

He said the FFAV model would help produce many football clubs with the participation of numerous children, while kids will be supported with life-skills through football activities.

FFAV works to develop children’s non-competitive grassroots football for 6 to 15-year-old children. The programme especially focuses on disadvantaged children and promotes the development of women’s football. FFAV uses football activities as a tool to integrate fundamental life skill activities so kids can have an useful playground to balance between learning and playing.

FFAV has established 184 football clubs with the participation of more than 17,000 children since it was launched in 2003. — VNS