Gender Equality Cambodia Project #51039

Fight for girls equality through football

by Indochina Starfish Foundation

Project Report | Sep 22, 2021
Tackling the ongoing challenges of COVID-19

By Meg Davies | Senior Development Officer

Online workout session

By now, we wish we could report that ISF’s football pitches were full again of aspiring footballers playing games, learning skills, and having fun. However, Cambodia is still facing restrictions as it fights the ongoing repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With organised sport still banned, the forced suspension of our Football Programme has put a halt to team’s weekly training and matches. Sadly, our annual tournaments and Youth League remain postponed and we currently do not know when they will be able to take place.

Your generous support has enabled ISF to continue employing our Football Programme coaches and staff as well as adapt our activities to ensure COVID-19 does not have a long-lasting impact on the team. We are looking forward to resuming our regular face-to-face training sessions and hosting weekly matches as soon as we are able to. Until then, we continue to take advantage of technology to provide online workouts and coaching sessions to players to keep them engaged, healthy, and active.

The team are also organising a rare opportunity for youths both in our Football Programme and throughout the country to continue having access to sporting opportunities during restrictions. Professional player Prak Mony Udom, from Svay Football Club, and one of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s esteemed coaches will host an online workshop to share their journey on becoming involved in the sport on a professional level, as well as getting participants involved in practising their skills.

This exciting workshop will be concluded with the launch of ISF’s Juggling Football Competition to put players’ football skills to the test. You can see who can keep the ball in the air for the longest and follow the updates on ISF’s Facebook page.

Join us in breaking barriers to education for disadvantaged Cambodian children

The ongoing COVID-19 restrictions are not only disrupting our programmes, but for many of the families ISF support they are at risk of being forced further into poverty. Living in extreme poverty, these families often survive hand-to-mouth and continue to face the devastating economic repercussions of the pandemic. Sadly, this threatens youths' schooling as many are at risk of dropping out in order to find work to help support their families.

ISF is working hard to mitigate these risks and continue breaking barriers to education for these disadvantaged children through ongoing support and additional aid. While our Football Programme is suspended, we would love it if you would join our Break Barriers to Education for Cambodian Children Project. Going forward, you will continue to receive updates from ISF and what we are doing via this project.

We hope you enjoy future updates about our Education Programme and thank you once again for your kindness and generosity to ISF.

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Jun 4, 2021
ISF is taking our pitch online!

By Meg Davies | Senior Development Officer

Working out at home

As the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll, a recent outbreak of the virus has seen Cambodia tackling its highest number of positive cases and tough restrictions across the capital city were introduced.

Unfortunately, a subsequent ban on contact sport has forced the suspension of ISF’s Football Programme. For the 770 girls involved– and 3,000 vulnerable youths in total – this has put a stop to regular training, matches, and tournaments, life-skills training, and social impact sessions.

Though our Football Programme is on hiatus, ISF coaches are still dedicated to these players. We are taking advantage of technology to come up with an innovative solution to keep them engaged and prevent them from engaging in harmful behaviours that are common in their local communities. Each week, coaches are hosting online training session via dedicated Facebook Groups and Zoom, to share football techniques and exercise plans which can be practised at home.

These online training sessions are our adaptation of our weekly in-person sessions, and ISF’s way of helping our students learn in an ever-changing world. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to your support we remain committed to continuing to provide vulnerable children opportunities to stay active, positive, and engaged through the power of football.

While COVID-19 restrictions have succeeded in lowering case counts, for many children in our programmes, the inability to work has severely impacted their families who often live hand to mouth on less than US$2 a day. Sadly, they will continue to suffer from the devastating economic repercussions of the pandemic long after restrictions have ceased.

ISF is extending our support during these challenging times to provide emergency food packages, hygiene products, and rent subsidies to families most in need, regardless of their affiliation to ISF’s programmes, in two of Phnom Penh’s poorest areas. For those willing and able, every $1 truly makes a difference. You can help prevent widespread malnutrition and homelessness by making a donation here.

Online coaching session

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