St. Joseph’s College becomes First Peace Football Pitch in the Pacific

Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 05 October 2024 – St Joseph College, Alafua has become the first Peace Pitch in the Pacific to twin its designated area of play with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Flanders, site of the 1914 First World War Christmas Truces.

The Twinning Ceremony of the first Peace Football Pitch in the Pacific was held during the CHOGM Meeting and commenced with the Commonwealth Peace Flag raising and the Children’s Football Alliance (CFA) Plaque and Certificate presentation ceremony.

The school team were also presented with sports shirts donated by the Brighton Hove Albion Premier League Club, together with an ‘indestructible’ football co-designed by famed pop star, Sting.

The CFA is a charitable organisation which invites schools and sporting organisations around the world to twin with the International Peace Football Pitch in Mesens, Belgium, where on Xmas Day in 1914, warring sides in World War One stopped fighting for one day and played a game of football in the spirit of peace.

Ernie Brennan, founder of CFA and Brother Kevin O’Malley, St Josephs College Principal sign the Peace Field Project Peace Declaration – Celebrating peace education through play. Looking on are as Vanda Chan Ting and sons.

Today there are over 70 schools and sporting associations which are a part of the CFA family. The inclusion of St. Joseph’s College (Marist Brothers) as the first Secondary School to open in Samoa in 1950 will subsequently be followed by the inclusion of the Marist Brothers High School in Suva, Fiji.

“This is truly a wonderful event for the young people of St Joseph College. The shared values of peace education through play is in tune with our school and Samoan culture,” said Kevin O’Malley, St Joseph’s College Principal during the signing ceremony.

In Memory of Joe Chan Ting
The event was in the memory of the late Joe Chan Ting (Nuuleleiuamatagofie) who passed away unexpectedly weeks before the twinning ceremony. Joe, connected St Joseph College’s peace pitch with Flanders Peace Field. His wife, Vanda and their three sons, Oliver Junior Cepha, Faasoa Aniseto Leonidas and Fainuulelei Trevino Chan Ting attended the historic event.

The late Nu’uleleiuamatagofie Joe Chan Ting

Lenalei Daijimara Chan Ting, Joe and Vanda’s daughter, currently attends Auckland University of Technology and was there in spirit. Joe’s family signed the Peace Field Project Peace Declaration Certificate which officially twins Samoa’s peace pitch with Flanders Peace Field Peace Pitch, Mesen, Flanders, Belgium.

Together with the Commonwealth Bond Trust the CFA helped hoist the Commonwealth Flag of Peace for the first time in Samoa at St Joseph’s College.

“I was truly moved to hear the wonderful Samoan voices sing traditional songs at the ceremony. It was an honour to meet Joe’s family. I will remember Vanda’s words about Joe forever,” said Ernie Brennan. Founder and CEO, CFA.

Raising of the Commonwealth Peace Flag at St Josephs College, Alafua.

About the CFA:                                                                                                                                              
The Children’s Football Alliance seek to protect childhood through play.  The CFA deliver Peace Education Projects through cross curricular activities and is a coalition of agencies and organisations that safeguard and advance the rights of children in football.  Globally, children contribute immeasurably to the game of football as players, as fans, as workers and in many other ways. Without doubt, the power of football to be an influential and dominant force for good in the daily lives of children worldwide is enormous.  As a humanistic voice and advocate for children, The CFA also acts as a focal point and network for those individuals and organisations seeking sustainable partnerships, information, education and/or training on child-centred approaches and children’s rights in football.  The Children’s Football Alliance works tirelessly to better children’s lives. www.childrensfootballalliance.com

About the Commonwealth Bond:                                                                                                                                                                                        The Commonwealth Bond is a registered UK charity working with the Commonwealth Secretariat to establish a vibrant new centre for the modern Commonwealth on the Greenwich Meridian, the geographical centre of the Commonwealth.  The aim of the New Commonwealth Quarter (NCQ) is to build on the success of the former Commonwealth Institute in London to promote the association’s cultural, artistic and commercial activities and to provide a focus for the six million British citizens of Commonwealth descent living in the UK.  The NCQ is supported by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to promote inward investment, celebrate local diversity and complement the Woolwich Regeneration Plan.