SONG Chivy can now run around and kick a ball like any normal eight year old. His mate Chourb Choeun, who is seven, has discovered his football skills as well.

The two boys have been fitted with artificial limbs, Chivy in June and again in October because he had grown so much, and Choeun in August.

The boys both have congenital birth defects and were born with only one leg.

The pair have been helped by the Cambodia Trust's Limb Project Center at Calmette hospital in Phnom Penh, where the Outreach programme operates in Kandal province. At present it gives on-going help to 36 women and 10 children but the Trust is desperate to expand its vital services.

Funded by Unicef specifically for women and children amputees, the project not only provides prosthesis, training and education but travel, beds and meals at the center.

A very important aspect of the programme is adjusting and replacing limbs for kids, who have to be reviewed every three months.

Chivy lives in Kampong Chamlong in Leuk Dek province with his father, a boat packer, his mother and three brothers and sisters. He goes to school.

Chivy was so happy to be given his new leg. "Now I can run around with my brothers and sisters."

Choeun, who lives with his mother who grows and sells vegetables in Lek 9 village in Saong province, also attends school.

As an only child, it has made a big difference to Choeun having a new limb and now to be able to play with his friends.

The Trust has another Outreach programme operating from its Sihanoukville center into Kom-pong Som and Koh Kong provinces.

The Trust is a British-based organization backed by a number of showbusiness celebrities. It is hoping to attract much-needed sponsorship to help develop and enlarge the project and provide running shoes for the children.