BGCAS Mentoring Initiative Afterschool Program marks Week 10 with Co-Ed Tournament

Teaming up with FFAS and BGCAS

Pago Pago, AS - Sunday, 14 February, 2011

Shakira’s Waka Waka (This time for Africa), the official 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ song, brought the house down at Pago Park Soccer Stadium with 300+ children from grades 5 to 8 chanting and dancing along to the catchy melody on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011.

The event was the successful Taitaitama/Boys & Girls Clubs of American Samoa Mentoring Initiative Afterschool Program co-ed tournament held at FFAS’ facilities in Pago Pago to mark the program’s 10th week.

All six schools — Alataua II/Taputapu, Leone Midkiff, Tafuna, Le’atele (Fagasa), Alofau and Matatula (Tula) elementaries — participating in the curriculum competed in the soccer and volleyball co-ed tournaments. Le’atele won soccer’s Grades 5 & 6 division while Alofau took the Grades 7&8 group. Leone Midkiff placed second in both divisions.

First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono, the Ta’ita’itama Prevent Underage Drinking Initiative and the Boys & Girls Clubs of American Samoa organized the event. Governor Togiola Tulafono was also present and in his special remarks thanked many of the program’s partners, including FFAS.

… FFAS is one of the program’s very important partners and without its support the First Lady’s agenda would not have been easy to achieve …

He said FFAS is one of the program’s very important partners and without its support the First Lady’s agenda would not have been easy to achieve. He also thanked the children’s parents, saying that their support of this initiative was vital. Togiola told the youngsters that through sports they would be able to “exercise and exhibit leadership as a child, as a young person.” First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono pointed out the Boys & Girls Club of America “mantra, Be Great Graduate.” “Make sure you stay in the program...we will help you right down to your homework,” the First Lady said, “and to making sure you have some nutrition and to hydrate you.”

“We are very happy and proud to be a partner with the First Lady in this afterschool initiative,” said Iuli Alex Godinet, who was personally thanked by Togiola during his remarks. “And what a great turnout it was, seeing the children having the time of their lives out there.”

After Mary Ann Tulafono’s remarks the youths warmed up through 15 minutes of Zumba (Latin-inspired fitness program). FFAS staff and coaches have been going out to the schools for an hour-long session on the sport of soccer, whether it be fun games outside or brief classroom lectures on the rules since the start of the program.

(Source: FFAS Media)