Using football as a vehicle to a brighter future

Proud supporters of The Football Sack and the round ball code in general, Banking on Football have just completed a heart-warming five day program in poverty-stricken Cambodia, using their passion for football and expertise in banking to help Cambodian children to a brighter future.

Australian Schoolgirls representative and Banking on Football ambassador Georgia Keen plays with the Cambodian children

Unfortunately more than one third of Cambodian children live below the poverty line and many are forced to leave school early to earn a living to support their families.

Far from breaking the cycle of poverty, this only serves to continue it, as those children who leave school early do so without the basic skills required to handle their finances and save for their futures.

In 2013 Banking on Football launched the inaugural Banking on Football Engagement Programme in association with CUFA (Credit Union Foundation Australia) and sent a team of representatives to Cambodia to work with more than 1,500 children over five days.

The Banking on Football Engagement Programme aims to use football as the vehicle to social development and greater understanding of financial literacy for underprivileged children in south-east Asia.

The Programme engages the children for 30 minutes of Children’s Financial Literacy, which teaches them the basics of how to save their money for their futures, then encourages the children to take part in small-sided football games for 30 minutes as their reward for taking part in the Financial Literacy training.

Children are encouraged to play with ‘HEART’ (Humility, Enthusiasm, Acceptance, Respect and Teamwork) and are awarded goals not only for their playing prowess but also for examples of fair play and good sportsmanship.

Following the matches, the children took part in a 30 minute ‘Sharing Circle’ in which they discussed what they had learned from the Financial Literacy training and from playing the game of football using the ‘HEART’ principles.

CEO of Banking on Football, Margot Sweeny recognised the extraordinary logistical and management skills of the CUFA Cambodia staff which were complimented by the generous commitment and effort of the Banking on Football team which included FFA/AFC B Licensed coach, Gavin Whitney.

Sweeny was not the only one impressed with the local talent on show, Australian Schoolgirls representative player Georgia Keen found working with the local children a life-changing experience.

“It was literally the most eye-opening and rewarding experience I have ever had the chance to participate in. It was fantastic to witness how the Cambodian people live and make a living especially since it is so different to how we do it over here in Australia. The kids were the highlight of the trip and to see how happy they were just to be playing football was amazing!’ Keen said.

You can check out some of the images from the Banking on Football Engagment Programme at BankingOnFootball.com or by visiting Banking on Football’s facebookpage.