The reigning Miss Samoa/Miss Pacific Islands Latafale Auva'a teamed up with NRL Development Samoa to promote healthy lifestyles in primary schools using the NRL Wellness program.
The program was delivered by NRL staff and Latafale, who visited Tuanaii Primary School on 22 July and Levi Primary School on 23 July to over 750 students.
The program is usually delivered in an assembly visit format but NRL Development Samoa team in coordination with each school delivered the program to students in their classrooms. The students watched the two-minute 'Healthy You' video on a big screen and were able to work through the teachers' resource provided with NRL.
Being in the classroom meant the students could engage and ask questions in a less imposing environment. It delivered the children a more personalised experience – and one many found valuable.
Years 1 through to 4 participated in some on field physical activity in the forms of fun games and relays. The message was physical activity and exercise can be fun and unstructured just like playing with other kids after school.
Years 5 through 8 have already completed the NRL League for Life Program and worked through the teachers' resource workbook provided with the NRL Wellness program.
They read stories from NRL stars Cooper Cronk and Josh McRone on how to snack smarter and stay healthy. Within the workbook are curriculum based exercises that were completed with the help of Miss Samoa and the NRL staff. This is where Latafale came in to her own by being able to discuss and share stories with the students within the enclosed environment of the classroom.
Latafale is also a national representative for the game of Touch football where she represented Samoa in the Samoa Women's Touch team in the Touch Football World Cup held in Coffs Harbour, on the mid-North Coast of NSW, earlier this year. She was also a member of the Samoa Woman Touch side that won a Silver medal at the recent Pacific Games held in Port Moresby, PNG.
