Indochina Starfish Foundation (ISF), an NGO that focuses on education and training for under privileged and homeless children, held the opening ceremony for a new sports field situated on 2.5 hectares of land on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

Saturday’s opening ceremony was presided over by Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, and Robert Gazzy, head adviser of ISF.

“Enlarging our potential by building a sports arena in the outskirts of Phnom Penh is a big need for under privileged children,” Gazzy said. “Our organisation tries so hard to find sponsor partners and donors from overseas to raise funds for education and sport training for the children.”

The new sport venue, which began construction in 2014 on 2.5 hectares of land, is located in Preah Theat village, Dangkor district. The construction of this modern venue was supported by Vath Chamroeun, who is also the deputy tourism minister.

Choub Vicheka, president of ISF, said: “ISF started its mission to educate and train under privileged children nine years ago.

“Since then, we have educated more than 100,000 children and now we are training 3,800 under privileged children. This modern football venue will be used for all sport programs and for all children.”

Meanwhile, Vath Chamroeun told the audience: “I totally admire ISF, who always take care of educating and training to the under privileged children as well as giving them a chance to play football. The NGO helps society a lot by raising funds from the overseas.

“This sport complex is in a good location for training and also a sport facility of Cambodia to educate, and train in the future. On behalf of NOCC, I fully support and cooperate to help train younger generation,” he said.

“ISF believes that all children, no matter how disadvantaged should be given the opportunity to have fun and participate in organised sports. ISF currently works with around 30 state school and NGOs in over nine provinces in Cambodia.

“It also works with the Football Federation of Cambodia and National Olympic Committee to develop grassroots football in Cambodia,” Choub Vicheka added.

Translated by In Sopheng