For 17 years, football has been opening doors for children at Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) — from weekly training sessions and building confidence to representing Cambodia at international tournaments.
Now, that journey will continue.
Happy Football Cambodia Australia (HFCA) and CCF have extended their partnership for a further three years, through to 2029. The agreement, signed on September 1 in Phnom Penh, will mark 20 years of collaboration between the two organisations.
"HFCA has been an outstanding partner to CCF, enriching the lives of our children through football for 17 years. Their programs provide not only the joy of competitive play but also the chance to participate in international sporting events, opening doors to new opportunities and experiences. This new MoU will carry the relationship to 20 years," said Scott Neeson, CCF Founder and Executive Director.
Paraic Grogan, the Founder of Happy Football Cambodia Australia, remarked: “CCF’s work with underprivileged youth in Steung Meanchey in Phnom Penh is a great inspiration for everyone at HFCA, and we are honored to continue our journey with them."
Since the partnership began in 2009, CCF boys and girls have travelled with HFCA to international tournaments and football opportunities in Brazil, France, Mexico, Poland, Chile, the Netherlands, Scotland, Norway, Wales, South Korea and Singapore.
But while the international opportunities have created unforgettable memories, HFCA Founder Paraic Grogan says the real value of the partnership lies in what happens every week on the football field.
“What’s really important is the week-to-week regular training sessions for young boys, young girls, and teenagers from Cambodian Children’s Fund,” Paraic says. “Football is a tool to help young people to grow confidence and learn about teamwork.”
For children facing challenges at home or at school, football can provide a place where they feel supported, connected and successful.
“If you’re struggling in school or struggling at home, the one area that might actually be going well for you is football,” Paraic says. “They know that we are there for them all the time.”
There is a real benefit to us in having HFCA as a partner
HFCA was established in 2005 to empower disadvantaged young people through football, providing access to training, teamwork, and opportunities that support wellbeing, self-esteem, and future pathways.
For CCF Founder Scott Neeson, the partnership complements CCF’s focus on keeping children in school and helping them reach their full potential.
“There is a lot of research that points to the fact that playing sports and being part of a team, whether win or lose, as a shared experience keeps the youth, especially the boys, away from gangs, away from drugs,” Scott says. “There is a real benefit to us in having HFCA as a partner.”
This program is very meaningful for the growth of kids and youth in Cambodia
The partnership has also helped young people develop skills and confidence beyond football. HFCA’s internship program with CCF has provided former students with opportunities to learn and eventually give back to younger generations.
One of them is Meas Makara, a former CCF student who joined HFCA as an intern in 2019 and now works with the organisation, coaching boys.
“It was fun, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to actually give back to other CCF kids,” Makara says. “I believe that this program is very meaningful for the growth of kids and youth in Cambodia.”
The impact of the partnership is evident in the journeys of young people such as Makara himself, as well as in those of former CCF students who have represented Cambodia overseas.
Scott recalls watching CCF students from some of Phnom Penh’s most impoverished communities compete on the international stage.
“I went to Oslo and seeing our boys, largely from around the garbage dump, play in an international tournament against 20, 30 other countries, was just marvellous to see,” he says. “For me, it was like a dream come true; I can’t even imagine how the boys must have felt. It’s something that will stay with them forever.”
It’s about giving young people opportunities to grow and develop
One of those students was Saray, who joined CCF after experiencing severe hardship at home. Despite losing sight in one eye as a result of childhood violence, Saray became an accomplished footballer, representing Cambodia at international tournaments and later coaching younger players.
Another standout success is Dane Rin, a former CCF student and HFCA Academy graduate who began playing football at seven and has since become a professional footballer with Svay Rieng Women's Team.
For Paraic, their stories capture what the partnership is ultimately about: giving young people opportunities they might otherwise never have.
“It’s about giving young people opportunities to grow and develop,” he says.
HFCA currently runs four weekly programs with CCF — for boys, Under-12 girls, Under-16 players and women — and the next three years will focus on strengthening these programs and reaching more young people.
The organisations will work together to promote the programs within CCF schools, identify barriers to participation and expand opportunities for young people in Phnom Penh.
HFCA has supported around 5,000 young people in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap since it began operations, including at least 2,000 girls.
As the partnership continues towards its 20-year milestone, the goal remains simple: to give young people the chance to play football, to belong, to grow — and to discover just how far they can go.
