There aren’t many positive things to be said about a pandemic, but one is that friendships can become stronger as people – and organisations – step up to support each other in the time of need. That’s certainly been the case with ISF and Phnom Penh Crown Football Club (PPCFC), one of Cambodia’s elite football teams. While ISF and PPCFC have known each other for a long time through our overlapping football activities, and desire to reach young Cambodians through sports, the COVID-19 pandemic has made our friendship even closer.

We were grateful when PPCFC arranged for the Leadership Program Class 8 (LP8) to visit our Steung Meanchey education centre back in October 2020. LP8 are an innovative group of Cambodian leaders and entrepreneurs who are committed to lifting up Cambodian society even as they push its economy forward. More than 50 members of the group visited our Steung Meanchey education centre and saw how our education and football programmes worked and benefited hundreds of children and families. Before they left, they donated educational supplies worth almost $25,000 to support our students, and pledged to do more in the coming months.

PPCFC is now making that promise a reality by partnering with us on the creation of Phnom Penh Crown branded face masks, made by the remarkable community sewing team from our Chbar Ampov Learning Centre. The sewing team is made up of mothers of ISF students, several of them having lost their previous jobs during the pandemic. The sewing team was created to give these mothers a new source of income to help their children stay in education, while also producing masks which can help Cambodians through the current pandemic. When PPCFC saw the sewing team’s beautiful and affordable masks during their visit, they saw an opportunity for all parties.

“Cambodia is in a very challenging time, it is hard for all of us and also the whole world,” said Ly Heang of PPCFC. “It is very important that we have to wear face masks and we want to make beautiful Phnom Penh Crown masks available to our fans. With this collaboration, we aim to establish a sustainable development programme. Every face mask is made by mothers of students from very poor families. By doing this, we will create more jobs for parents who can then provide support to the students so that they can keep going to school with ISF and have a chance to catch up on missed education and transition to state school.”

The face masks are expertly made, rewashable, reusable and available in a range of colours, all bearing the famous Phnom Penh Crown logo. In addition, the sewing team is making their services available to the general public. They can make masks, t-shirts, pants, uniforms, gowns and costumes with great care and at competitive prices. Simply contact ISF at info@isfcambodia.org for more information.

Vicheka Chourp, ISF Country Manager, said, “Phnom Penh Crown are truly leading the way with initiatives like this. In some countries, football clubs have very large programmes for giving back to communities. These aren’t as advanced in Cambodia, but Phnom Penh Crown are showing that it can be done, that a football club can lift not just the spirits of the Cambodian people but improve their lives and futures. We are very grateful for their forward-thinking, compassion and support.”

“It’s a big moment for us because we want to link corporate social responsibility with the use of professional football so that people can join activities that contribute to society,” said Ly Heang of PPCFC. “We already have events like football cleaning days and annual fundraisers for Kuntha Bopha Hospital. We want to create a new fundraising approach that supports sustainable development. Selling these face masks will encourage football fans to join our cause.

“The ultimate goal of this programme is not about earning money for us but to create more sustainable jobs for the parents and continue to support their children to go to school and participate in sports. Those students will become good citizens in the future. So I’m asking all our fans to support this programme. Buying one of these face masks will not just help Cambodia’s development, it will also help protect you. Please remember the 3 DOs and DON’T, and keep thinking positively for good mental health. Thank you.”