By Katie Humphries | Grants and Fundraising Officer
Reflecting on the last time we got in contact with you in November, it seems ironic that we were celebrating our students’ return to our schools. Little did we know that in the next few months we would have to close the school again, not just once, but multiple times over the next few months.
The last few months have been challenging for ISF’s teachers and students, as outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus have forced us to switch back and forth from remote to in-person learning due to frequent government-enforced school closures. Whilst we want to do everything we can to protect our students and staff, we are very much looking forward to a time when we can deliver uninterrupted teaching with a visible smile on everyone’s faces!
Despite these challenges, we have been reflecting on the incredible things we achieved in 2020 thanks to your support. Here some highlights:
As you can see from the numbers above, even though 2020 was fraught with challenges, ISF teachers and staff were able to keep students engaged, learning, and progressing on to the next chapter of their lives. We are continuing to support the families of our students with nutrition, healthcare, and employment support and conduct regular needs assessments to identify the most pressing needs of the communities we work with.
Going above and beyond this #InternationalWomensDay
Not only do we have lots of positives to reflect on, but we also have some exciting events coming up in 2021. Next week, on Monday 8th March, we will be launching our five-day International Women’s Day campaign where we will be spending the week celebrating the inspiring females that take part in our projects.
In Cambodia, cultural and social norms often dictate that women should be at home looking after the family, instead of getting an education, pursuing a career, or playing sport. This institutional sexism has resulted in a severe lack of sporting opportunities for women, making ISF the first, and biggest, provider of football training and events for females in the whole country. We know from experience that so many girls long to play sport and improve their physical wellbeing, just like their male counterparts.
We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of raising $4000 by Friday 12th March so that we can provide weekly football training sessions to 20 girls from disadvantaged areas in Phnom Penh. Our social impact football lessons will educate these girls on important social issues such as addiction, gambling, disability and HIV, to empower them to make positive life choices and avoid negative behaviours. They will also learn about women’s rights, gender-based violence, and gender equality to reinforce the idea that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, in all areas of life, work, and home.
If you are thinking of showing your support for International Women’s Day, please consider helping us to achieve our target so that we can make our players’ dreams a reality. And don’t worry if you can’t afford to give much. From Monday 8th to Friday 12th March 50% of all donations under $50 donated to our ‘Fight for Girls Equality Through Football’ page will be matched by GlobalGiving! From the girls in our programme, thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity. And Happy International Women's Day!
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