Driving positive change through sport with Gumball 3000 and ISF Cambodia
Young people from Laureus Sport for Good programme partner ISF Cambodia showcase football skills to Gumball 3000 drivers during 25th Anniversary Rally.
For 25 years, the Gumball 3000 Rally has taken supercars and superstars on the most epic journeys across the globe.
This year’s rally through Southeast Asia included a stop in Siem Reap, a city in northwest Cambodia. It was different than the other six stops along the 3,000km route. Usually there’s live music concerts and car shows. But as the cars entered Siem Reap, they were greeted by 30 young people eager to play football.
Even if that meant playing through torrential downpours.
This year’s rally through Southeast Asia included a stop in Siem Reap, a city in northwest Cambodia. It was different than the other six stops along the 3,000km route. Usually there’s live music concerts and car shows. But as the cars entered Siem Reap, they were greeted by 30 young people eager to play football.
Even if that meant playing through torrential downpours.
“It’s so nice to see all the kids having a big smile on their faces and (the drivers) getting to be involved directly with the kids to do the activation— we often don’t get the opportunity to do that and see the work firsthand,” said Head of Gumball 3000 Foundation Julius Fenn-Evans.
The rally has also served as a fundraiser to the Gumball 3000 Foundation’s various charity partners, with a percentage of this year’s funding going toward those young people from Indochina Starfish Foundation Cambodia (ISF Cambodia) that provides underprivileged children in the country with access to education, healthcare and sport.
“One of the most special moments was seeing how excited our players were to interact with the Gumball 3000 team guests,” said ISF Cambodia football programme coordinator Borann Sok.
“The encouragement from the guests (drivers) combined with the kids’ enthusiasm created a great atmosphere. It even showed the importance of sport and unity, reminding everyone that positive change is possible when we come together.”
The rally has also served as a fundraiser to the Gumball 3000 Foundation’s various charity partners, with a percentage of this year’s funding going toward those young people from Indochina Starfish Foundation Cambodia (ISF Cambodia) that provides underprivileged children in the country with access to education, healthcare and sport.
“One of the most special moments was seeing how excited our players were to interact with the Gumball 3000 team guests,” said ISF Cambodia football programme coordinator Borann Sok.
“The encouragement from the guests (drivers) combined with the kids’ enthusiasm created a great atmosphere. It even showed the importance of sport and unity, reminding everyone that positive change is possible when we come together.”
With 15 boys and 15 girls participating in the activation, ISF Cambodia have a keen focus on increasing the inclusion of girls. Together with the Gumball drivers, they showed them a glimpse of the skills, teambuilding drills and social impact activities they normally do at ISF.
The young people at the rally are also from some of the poorest communities across Cambodia, where less than 5 percent of the young people finish school. ISF Cambodia has aimed to tackle that by providing education programmes that offer classes in English, IT and other vocational training.
The young people at the rally are also from some of the poorest communities across Cambodia, where less than 5 percent of the young people finish school. ISF Cambodia has aimed to tackle that by providing education programmes that offer classes in English, IT and other vocational training.
“Football has this incredible power to connect people. It really breaks barriers, creating a space for everyone despite age, nationality, culture and gender. This is what happened with Gumball and the participants.”
“The most fun part about today was the football match where every child got to play,” said ISF Cambodia participant Rany.
“I want to be a doctor because if I’m a doctor, I can help my family, my friends, my neighbor and people who live in this place, in this environment… and I will be happy if I can help them.”
“I want to be a doctor because if I’m a doctor, I can help my family, my friends, my neighbor and people who live in this place, in this environment… and I will be happy if I can help them.”
ISF Cambodia have long been supported by Laureus Sport for Good. And it’s through Laureus’ extensive network of sport for good programmes that the Gumball 300 Foundation have found ways to leave a lasting impact on the communities along the rally route.
At last year’s rally through Europe, the Gumball 3000 Foundation and Laureus Sport for Good hosted a “panna” competition during a stop in Amsterdam. Panna Knock Out is a worldwide street football platform which provides youth with the opportunities to express their talent and passion for street football through a range of global events. They became the beneficiaries of the Gumball 3000 Foundation’s grant to Laureus Sport For Good.
“Ultimately for us we want to make sure that children are getting valuable opportunities that they otherwise may not have had, and I think programmes like ISF really provide infrastructure that allow for that,” Fenn-Evans said. “With the support of the Gumball Foundation along with Laureus Sport for Good, I think we can really accelerate that and continue (building) that infrastructure that allows those opportunities and ultimately so that they’re having fun and enjoying their lives.”
By Ros Dumlao | For Laureus Sport for Good
At last year’s rally through Europe, the Gumball 3000 Foundation and Laureus Sport for Good hosted a “panna” competition during a stop in Amsterdam. Panna Knock Out is a worldwide street football platform which provides youth with the opportunities to express their talent and passion for street football through a range of global events. They became the beneficiaries of the Gumball 3000 Foundation’s grant to Laureus Sport For Good.
“Ultimately for us we want to make sure that children are getting valuable opportunities that they otherwise may not have had, and I think programmes like ISF really provide infrastructure that allow for that,” Fenn-Evans said. “With the support of the Gumball Foundation along with Laureus Sport for Good, I think we can really accelerate that and continue (building) that infrastructure that allows those opportunities and ultimately so that they’re having fun and enjoying their lives.”
By Ros Dumlao | For Laureus Sport for Good
