The Ministry of Youth and Sports has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Think Pacific in Suva yesterday.

Ministry of Sports permanent secretary, Alison Burchell, said the MOU gave Think Pacific access to conduct physical education and other activities as this can start a process of lifelong learning.

“Because if we have a problem as we do have with non-communicable diseases, the younger generation will start doing exercises and it is more likely to be part of their lives as we go forward,” she said.

“Think Pacific has been a partner of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for a number of years.

“For us it is good to be able to continue our relationship with Think Pacific because they provide services in the communities, making use of sports to ensure that we have a level of physical education activity happening in schools.

“But what’s also important is that they bring people from the United Kingdom to Fiji to get the Fijian experience.

“It’s another form of sports tourism because it’s revolving around sports bringing young people to Fiji to experience the Fijian way of life.

“The young volunteers actually go and live in villages and get to know what it is like to live and enjoy the nice pace of life in Fiji.”

Think Pacific co-founder Harry Hunter said it was a really proud day to renew the MOU with the Sports Ministry.

“We believe very much working in partnership with the local ministries and organisers supporting the existing initiatives, aims and objectives that are on the ground.

“The MOU allows us to provide windows of opportunities and access to the youths who were so fortunate to partner in the host communities and schools that we work alongside.

“We shall continue to campaign for physical activity and sports from early childhood education, primary, secondary and community level,” Hunter added.