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September 27, 2024
Fairplay for All Foundation (FFA) – a youth sport for development charity in the Philippines – and international healthcare professionals agency, Conexus Medstaff, have teamed up to help Filipino youth access education and lead healthier lives. Sponsorship funding from Conexus will support FFA’s youth scholar program and help children and the community with nutritious meals and clean water.
According to UNICEF, 95 children in the Philippines die from malnutrition every day. 27 out of 1,000 Filipino children do not live past their fifth birthday and a third are stunted or short for their age due to poverty. In addition, low routine immunization coverage and lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities also threaten children’s survival and development.
Based in Payatas, Quezon City, FFA has been using football to level the playing field and improve community wellbeing since 2011. It runs a youth center, cafe and sports center which provide physical and mental health resources, social and emotional support and financial and educational opportunities. Fairplay’s mission is for all children to learn, play and grow.
The Foundation set up the first local football team, FC Payatas, which has supported many childrens’ football journeys. One success story is beneficiary Ronalyn Legata who represented the Filipino national team at the 2014 Street Child World Cup in Brazil.
“At Fairplay, we’re strengthening the Payatas community to respond to challenges and reimagining holistic support that keeps young people in education. We believe no one should be trapped in poverty just because of where they were born. Every child deserves a decent education, but too many children in the Payatas community lack the financial stability needed to study. Thanks to partners like Conexus, we can extend our health and education programs to improve more young lives,” said FFA Founder, Roy Moore.
The scholarship funds will help ensure that children stay in school rather than dropping out to support their families. The grant will cover transportation to and from schools or universities, uniforms, basic school supplies and daily lunches, as well as academic, social and emotional support for children in the education program. Providing children and their families access to nutritious meals and clean water is central to the program as proper nourishment is essential for effective learning and academic performance. Additionally, first aid and basic life support training certifications will be given to FFA’s coaches and mentorship from Conexus registered nurses for young people considering a career in nursing.
Conexus MedStaff is a leading healthcare recruitment, immigration and staffing agency, specializing in employing international registered nurses, international nursing students, and international medical technologists in the U.S. To mark the new partnership, 24 of its employees visited FFA’s community center and cafe to take part in football sessions and distribute first-aid kits for players. The partnership is part of Conexus’s newly launched Social Impact Program, which seeks to make the world a healthier place for future generations. “By tackling inequalities in education and health through partnerships like this, we can inspire the next generation to excel in healthcare and beyond,” said Conexus CEO, Andrew Moreton.
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