Team sport: A community’s affair

Fortunately for people of Palau, the State Incentive Grant (SIG) through its support of the Council on Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), Council of Chiefs, and the varying states’ government programs a new inclusive team sport has emerged – community involvement.Last Saturday, July 26, at Ngarchelong Baseball Field, Ngarchelong youth organized a community health, environment, and sport day in which all who could crawl, wheeled, or walk were able to take part in. According to Dweylyn Ngirailild, Ngarchelong State youth representative to SIG, “the young and the old all participated as part of colored teams.  The teams were organized randomly – no one was drafted because of skill or athletic prowess.”  She further added that each member of the team was only required to sweat a little and to abstain from any substance deemed by health service providers as detrimental to a person’s well being for the duration of the activities.“It was a drug free event,” she said, “and if anyone had consumed alcohol or taken, smoked, or injected any other substances, he or she had hidden well.”Ngirailild further said, “fun was our high and stupor; and everyone was dazed, but remembered everything.”According to Ngirailild, everyone was a winner.  In addition, there was even a raffle drawing – made possible by generous contributions of many people.“On behalf of the youth, I thank the following people: Marhence Madrangchar, Dilami Saiske, Don Bukkurrou, Delegate Kerai Mariur, Johnson Toribiong, Vice-President Elias C. Chin, Senator Hokkons Baules, Joan H. Demei, Tadao Ngotel, James Ultirakl and family, Marlene Aguon, Helen Moros, Marah Imetengel, and Ibechui Wasisang for their generous contributions.” She also extended here sincere gratitude to members of Ngarchelong State Assembly participating and contributing to the activities and employees of Ngarchelong State who volunteered to do the logistical work.“The whole thing could not have been,” she added, “had it not been for the tremendous support of the agencies, contributions of caring people, and active participation of the community members of the state.  Many thanks to them for the fun and enjoyable community affair.”