US Embassy advancing gender equality in Cambodia


 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea    

Through its yearly small grant competition, the US Embassy Public Affairs Section provided funding to Kids Play International (KPI) to use sports to advance gender equality and empower women and young people in Cambodia. 

This project is an opportunity to show the US Embassy's interest in assisting young Cambodians in developing their talents as well as its support for youth and women's empowerment.



Charlie Crawford, manager of KPI Cambodia, said that the goal of this one-year project with a $20,000 grant, is to improve the personal and professional development and leadership skills of youth and adults in a rural village outside of Siem Reap.

On Friday, US Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy led a group of US Embassy staff to play American football with more than 100 Cambodian students at the Kurata Unity Primary School in Anchanh village, Angkor Thom city in Siem Reap province.



Murphy explained the advantages of American football to the children before playing the game with them.

He said it was a healthy sport and that it promoted solidarity, teamwork and friendships.

He encouraged the children and adults to continue playing sports, especially American football because it can help them to promote and improve both their health and studies.


Chea Sarin, the Governor of Angkor Thom city, said that there are five state schools including primary schools, secondary schools and a high school with a student population of about 3,000 students in Angkor Thom city.

Sarin stated that the schools worked with the KIP to establish a "sport program" in which pupils trained and played football, particularly American football, as it is thought of as a "physical football" or "brain-inspiring sport" for the students in order to boost both their health and education.

He continued by saying that one of the five schools that had included and trained American football in Siem Reap city was the Kurata Unity Primary School, which had been chosen to play American football with the US Embassy on Friday during the "2023 AMCAM Friendship Week".

"In my experience, a lot of kids struggle with studying before. But since we introduced and made this American football a part of the curriculum and their physical activity, they studied well and their monthly test results improved, Sarin said.




According to Sarin, American football fosters friendship and cooperation between Americans and Cambodians.

Kurata Unity Primary School Grade 6 student, Kim Kuntheary, 13, said she learnt to play American football by a Cambodian coach last year.

Kuntheary claimed that she improved as a student and became smarter as a result of playing football.

"Before, I was a lonely girl and the weakest student in my class and dared not to speak up or approach other people.

"Since I began practicing and playing American football, I developed into a brave and energetic girl since the sport has taught me a lot, especially about sharing, cooperating as a team, solidarity, and forming friendships,” she said.




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