2011-01-21
AMDA Cambodia Supports Vulnerable Children and Youths Through Sports Activities

With the support from Yamaichi Kanko - Japan and AMDA International, AMDA Cambodia has started to introduce a health education program to prevent HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for vulnerable children through regular football trainings and matches.

The Happy Football Cambodia Organization (HFC) was established in November 2005 by the group of Cambodian volunteers with multi-disciplines. All of the players on this team are poor and vulnerable youths and children from slum and shantytown areas in Phnom Penh City who live in poverty and are often exposed to daily violence, drug addiction and disease transmission, especially HIV/AIDS and STDs.

The program aims to improve health and increase discipline, commitment and team spirit for these children through the promotion of football with the theme, "Let's play sports, avoid drugs and violence". The trainees actively participate in the training every morning on Saturdays and Sundays in Preah Sisovath High School in Phnom Penh. The training is professionally conducted with the assistance of qualified coaches from the Cambodian Football Federation. HFC team members manage the training and support the children through providing training materials, T-shirts, water and a rented football pitch.

At the same time, AMDA Cambodia also provides health education to the trainees on basic knowledge and prevention of HIV/AIDS and STDs. The trainees are encouraged to be the peer educators for the community-based disease prevention to maintain their friends and family members in their community.

AMDA Cambodia plans to replicate the successful model to support more vulnerable children and youths, both boys and girls. AMDA Cambodia welcomes any kind of support and contributions for improving health, well being and the future of these youngsters.

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