The 2023 Hevea Cup & Wellness Expo, held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, exemplifies how innovative investments in sports can drive public health improvements and social change. This event strategically combined a Rugby League 9s tournament with a wellness expo, engaging 2,120 attendees, including secondary school students, to address pressing health and social challenges in the region.

Key Findings

• Youth Engagement: The event focused on engaging young people, recognising their critical role in addressing health and social issues. A significant portion of the attendees were secondary school students, who were given exclusive access on the first day, fostering a safe environment for learning and empowerment.
• Behavioral Impact: Monitoring and evaluation data revealed that 89% of participants learned something new from the wellness expo, and 73% reported making positive behavioral changes as a result.
• Gender Equality and Violence Prevention: The event maintained a strong commitment to gender equality and combating gender-based violence. Discussions emphasised engaging men and boys in these efforts through sports, highlighting the role of rugby as a participatory tool to end violence.

Strategic Direction for the Future

The Hevea Cup aims to continue evolving as a platform that integrates sports with health promotion and community engagement. The strategic direction involves:

• Expanding Reach: The event plans to reach more communities across Papua New Guinea, leveraging sports to disseminate vital health information and inspire positive change.
• Enhancing Partnerships: Continued collaboration with sponsors and health organisations will be crucial to sustaining and expanding the event's impact. The involvement of entities like the Sir Brian Bell Foundation highlights the importance of partnerships in supporting health and education access through sports.
• Fostering Grassroots Development: The event's success in increasing the involvement of coaches and trainers by 86.7% underscores its role in fostering grassroots sports development, which is essential for long-term community engagement and health improvement.

Impact on Public Health Outcomes

Investing in sports as a tool for public health has shown promising results in Papua New Guinea. The Hevea Cup's approach demonstrates that:

• Sports as a Health Promotion Tool: By combining sports with health education, the event effectively engaged participants in learning about critical health issues, leading to significant behavioural changes.
• Community Empowerment: The event empowered communities by providing platforms for dialogue and action against gender-based violence, using sports as a unifying force.
• Youth as Change Agents: Engaging youth through sports initiatives like the Hevea Cup is crucial for addressing public health crises and unlocking the potential of human capital in Papua New Guinea.

The Hevea Cup & Wellness Expo serves as a model for how innovative sports investments can enhance public health outcomes and drive social change, offering valuable insights for similar initiatives worldwide.

View full report here.