Empower 2,000 Cambodian Kids Through Sport

The vision of Globalteer’s Sports Programme is a generation of young Cambodian people for whom sports – and all the health, lifestyle and life-skills benefits that go with them – are a natural and integral part of their lives.

Established in 2007 this programme is designed to bring sports to underprivileged children in the rural Siem Reap province, who otherwise have very limited access to them.

Children throughout Cambodia, but in rural areas in particular, face problems such as poverty, poor education, insufficient health care, child labour, sex trafficking, and child marriage. Poverty poses a significant barrier to formal education, which means children don’t have access to opportunities to over-come poverty in the future. Children become invisible in society and are not encouraged to express their opinions, assert their rights, or have the confidence to stand up for them-selves. These problems are more prevalent for girls; as they get older their drop-out rates become higher, especially in rural areas, often because they begin seeking jobs to help their families financially.

Sports help to improve children's fitness and physical condition, as well as teach important personal and interpersonal skills, like self-confidence, self-esteem, respect, teamwork, leadership, and discipline. Participation in sports helps to empower all children to access better future opportunities and dream bigger. Sports can also empower girls to make their own choices, take more active roles in society and control their own lives.

Sports Festival

This year we have organised a large Sport Festival Event that included teams of students from all of the outreach schools. There were teams of students, with each school bringing their own horde of supporters, with a total around 1000 people attended. They all had Nom Banchok, a traditional Khmer noodle breakfast, and plenty of water! It was a hot day but that did not stop the students putting 100% effort into all the games.

The staff also worked very hard to make the day a huge success. In the closing ceremony, 73 sets of sportwear were given out to members of the teams for each event, to huge cheers and applause from everyone! There were also speeches made by several of the teachers from the local schools. They all spoke about how proud they were of their students for their determination and positive attitude, and also added that they were very grateful to Globalteer and Helping Hands School for hosting such a wonderful event!

Goals for Girls

The Goals for Girls initiative aims to educate high school girls about leadership by integrating sports into the program. In Cambodia, girls are typically excluded from participating in "sports" and relegated to the side-lines once they reach a certain age. Goals for Girls empowers young women to reclaim the sports field and discover the various roles they can play, both on the field and in broader society.

Visitors to our program always notice that our girls have so much confidence and join in with sport classes without hesitation. This is not always the case in rural Cambodia and we are proud that they have received so much encouragement. The introduction of the dance aerobics classes, and some special girls-only activities has really helped them.

The primary factor of utmost importance is our provision of female coaches who offer assistance and guidance without any judgment. With female coaches leading the sessions, girls are immediately introduced to role models whom they can admire and emulate. These sessions concentrate on defining leadership and identifying various forms of leadership observed in their surroundings, while also exploring potential leadership roles that the girls can undertake both presently and in the future. The objective is to empower the girls, instilling in them the confidence to pursue their aspirations and become future leaders.

From Coach Reth Noy

Coach Reth Noy, was especially pleased to take part in our Sports Festival Day. She is very proud to have a job that puts her in a position to inspire the girls in her community. She told us that she worries about the future of young people in Cambodia because it is very hard for them, but she is happy when she sees them smiling and having fun together in her Sport classes.

Thank you!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our generous donors. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of the Sport's Project success, driving us forward and making our impactful work possible.
Your kindness and dedication have enabled us to make a tangible difference in the lives of the children and teens we serve. Truly, it is not possible without your compassion and commitment. Thank you for making everything we do possible!