THE Children’s Games, a banner feature of the Philippine Sports Institute of the Philippine Sports Commission, may become a global program.
This was after the United Educational and Scientific Organization took interest in expanding and sharing it with other members of the United Nations.
Caroline Baxter Tresise, UNESCO’s Consultant on Youth and Sport Social and Human Sciences, said the partnership is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
“We will use the Philippines as an example on how it should be done. We will align our program with the national sports policy (of the PSC). It’s a great opportunity for the Philippines to take the lead,” said Baxter.
PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez said he’s thankful that UNESCO has taken notice of the PSC’s Children’s Games for peace program held recently in Davao City and Ifugao, adding that the PSC is very glad to share the idea with other nations.
“UNESCO asked about our Children’s Games program and we told them that we have a directive from the President to pursue this program as an early peacemaking among our children, muslims and Christians,” Ramirez said. “It’s an early training for tolerance, understanding and working together.”
The PSC got an invitation to speak about the Children’s Games in next week’s Ministerial Conference for Sports to be held in Kazan, Russia.
Ramirez said he is very proud of the PSC’s brainchild and will definitely make it as the “base, strength and the heart and soul of our grassroots sports program.”
Ramirez, along with commissioners Charles Maxey and PSI national training director Marc Edward Velasco, met with 60 PSI regional and area coordinators yesterday at the Philsports in Pasig City for assessment.
With the program poised to become global, Ramirez stressed their roles in touching the lives of the children, including the out of school youth, orphans, poor and those who have lost hope in society.
“The work is enormous I admit and cannot do it alone. Let us work together and keep working towards our goal and focus on the real gold – the children,” said Ramirez.