The Tonga Football Association’s Just Play programme won the Best Messaging Award at the Oscar Folktale Awards during the TeamUp meeting in Fiji this month.

The Just Play programme uses football and sport-based activities to promote inclusion, education, gender equality and healthy lifestyles for children and young people.

The award recognised the programme’s work in delivering positive messaging, storytelling and community engagement through sport across Tonga.

Tonga was the only programme to receive an award, among Pacific Islands nominated in the category.

The category included, Basketball For Good Solomon Islands and Inclusive Gymbad PNG.

Representatives from the Tonga Just Play programme said the achievement reflected years of hard work by staff, volunteers and communities involved in the initiative.

The Tonga Football Association congratulated everyone involved in the programme and thanked supporters for contributing to the achievement.

The TeamUp meeting and Oscar Folktale brings together sports-for-development programmes from across the Pacific region.