Every four years a little event called the FIFA World Cup comes around and the world celebrates....six billion people are glued to the progress of this global tournament. There's a festival hosted by FIFA that coincides w/ this great event, the Football For Hope Festival 2010, which is an official event of the World Cup.
32 organizations from around the globe are chosen to put together a team of eight 15-18 year old football players to play in a round-robin tournament and meet other players from around the world. These players have two things in common: the organizations they represent use soccer/football for development and they all love soccer/football.
Football for Hope is a movement that uses the power of football for social change around the world. It is led by FIFA and streetfootballworld, a centre of expertise that supports a global network of local organizations in the field of development through football. The movement started in 2005 to galvanize support around sustainable social development solutions that focus on health promotion, peace building, children’s rights and education, anti-discrimination and social integration and the environment.
Spirit of Soccer, an international NGO sponsoring the Cambodian delegation, was selected to organize the only SE Asian delegation due to its commitment and excellent track record in contributing to national development through sport. The organization uses soccer/football as a channel for children to learn about the hazards of landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and unexploded ordnances (UXO), which result in an estimated 450 deaths annually of children in Cambodia. Landmines are a legacy of Cambodia’s genocide and war from 1975-1979, in which an estimated two million Cambodians died. There are still an estimated six million landmines in Cambodia.
Football for Hope is a movement that uses the power of football for social change around the world. It is led by FIFA and streetfootballworld, a centre of expertise that supports a global network of local organizations in the field of development through football. The movement started in 2005 to galvanize support around sustainable social development solutions that focus on health promotion, peace building, children’s rights and education, anti-discrimination and social integration and the environment.
Spirit of Soccer, an international NGO sponsoring the Cambodian delegation, was selected to organize the only SE Asian delegation due to its commitment and excellent track record in contributing to national development through sport. The organization uses soccer/football as a channel for children to learn about the hazards of landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and unexploded ordnances (UXO), which result in an estimated 450 deaths annually of children in Cambodia. Landmines are a legacy of Cambodia’s genocide and war from 1975-1979, in which an estimated two million Cambodians died. There are still an estimated six million landmines in Cambodia.
Meet the squad - they are a wonderful group of talented players that come from land-mine/UXO effected communities in three provinces of Cambodia - Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin.
They are excited to make their first venture outside Cambodia and explain to the world that even among the ever-present danger of unexploded ordinances, sport can still bring people together.
We are proud to introduce this vibrant & amazing group of Cambodian youth. Stephen Sonderman, Rachel Haig, Ly Heang (Lead Coach) & Nhoe Kamsort (Ast. Coach) will escort this team to the festival in South Africa this June/July for the tournament during the last two weeks of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Follow their progress with us through this blog!
Som'nang Lah'oh,
Rachel & Stephen
So cool. You guys totally rock! Have fun!
ReplyDelete- der Gizard
hey stephen, happy 40th man! hope you make it back to the states before youre 45!
ReplyDeletejeffe
I was able to attend and the Cambodian team were clearly big favourites of fellow team members. I have some photos for you of the award ceremony if you want! Lovely kids, lovely effort.
ReplyDelete