The launch of the GYMBOX was attended by Members of Motu Koitabu Assembly, Honourable Nao Mase Oala Member Mirigini Electorate, Honourable Gavera Areni, Member Elevala Lahara Electorate, Honourable Rei Gorohu, Member Elevala Laurabada. Major sponsors Kina Petroleum Corporation, Steamships and partners Solar Solutions and Brian Bell Group supporting PNG’s very first grassroots sports and wellness centre.
“Community coaches play an important role in grassroots sports communities and the GYMBOX is an excellent platform to deliver strength and conditioning programs to their athletes and respective sports in the village. The facility is also multipurpose and will allow health providers to hire the space as a consulting room to take patients. An example of this is having a nurse or doctor use the space to do vaccination clinics or workshops for local health workers.” GSP Founder Tahina Booth.
GYMBOX is a Grass Skirt Project design concept combining a sport and wellness centre. The first prototype of its kind is a 20ft shipping container. The GIAB will offer sports education to community coaches and strength community health outreach programs to deliver health initiatives in any location in PNG. “My late sister and father passed away some 7 years ago and died from non-communicable diseases, and I didn’t want that happening to other people in my village. I wanted to create a gym for all people to come and train and learn about how to have healthy lifestyles”. GYMBOX, Kila Mala.
Another community-based initiative Grass Skirt Project coordinates is the Hevea Cup Wellness Expo International Rugby League 9’s Carnival will comprise 24 teams; 12 men’s and 12 women’s, coming together from around PNG and the wider Pacific region to participate in sport-oriented community building and health promotion in a safe, inclusive environment. The accompanying Wellness Expo will feature over 40 stalls, training and education workshops, special celebrity guests and fun activities for kids.