Friendly football match strengthens boy protection network

On 7 June, World Vision’s My Son project brought together nine football clubs from the Phnom Penh area for friendly matches at Beong Trabek High School to strengthen the relationships between the clubs and boy protection networks.

“We organized friendly football matches to build relationships between football clubs from different locations and groups. We believe this will help strengthen our boy protection networks in our effort to protect boys from abuse and exploitation,” said Ms. Morn Borina, My Son Project Manager.

My Son project works with boy sexual abuse victims, vulnerable boys, and boys at risk of becoming child laborers, street children, child scavengers, child exploitation and prostitution in Phnom Penh. The purpose of the project is to prevent and protect boys from sexual abuse through capacity building, strengthening networks, and awareness raising that enables boys to protect themselves.

“I am happy to participate in this football tournament because most of my friends and I don’t have enough time to play football. Most of us are busy with studying and earning our living by collecting garbage to sell. I think that these football matches are good as it keeps us from falling into the wrong crowd and doing drugs,” says Rithy, 18, from Wat Phnom, Sangkat Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, said.

At the close of the tournament, the My Son project provided prizes for the top three teams:Psar Touch football club, Chbar Ambov High School football club, and Stoeng Meanchey football club.