Partnerships between schools and HFCA provide potential student leadership opportunities through increased understanding of the different circumstances, cultures and lives people lead internationally, the development of fundraising projects to enable the program to continue, opportunities for school visits and the ability to establish ongoing relationships between individuals involved, not to mention finding friends to share a love of the beautiful game that is football.
CIS (Canadian International School of Singapore) has three campuses throughout Singapore and first visited HFCA in May 2010, organising friendly matches with our players.
Since then CIS have visited HFCA seven times in eight years and the relationship between HFCA and CIS has grown stronger. CIS has a student body of over 3,000 representing a diverse population from over 70 countries, with a strong focus on leadership and international understanding and good citizenship. HFCA is always thrilled by visits from CIS, and it means a lot to HFCA players that young people from around the world know about them and want to hang out and play football with them.
"The UN recognizes play as the right of every child. Play is NOT a luxury; it is a tool for education and health. It can bring entire communities together and inspire every individual. The Canadian International School excursion regularly supports HFCA because we believe what the UN believes. The game of football teaches children about cooperation, tolerance and peace. Play helps teach important life lessons and develops skills like cooperation, leadership, and teamwork. We think that being able to be part of HFCA allows us to learn to be thankful for what we have because many others like the children in HFCA worked really hard to be where they are today.”
- Scott Little, Teacher, Canadian International School
Ivanhoe Grammar School has been visiting HFCA since 2008. The visitors were invited to participate in the rigorous morning training sessions with Cambodian players, followed by a friendly match of football. Players on both sides battled it out or a 1-1 draw, which seemed like a fitting result for a well-fought game. Ivanhoe Grammar School was delighted to be able to visit with three members of the 2008 Cambodian Homeless World Cup Team, who stayed with the school during their visit to Melbourne, where the tournament was hosted. The flag presented as a gift to the players by Ivanhoe Grammar School remains a treasured possession to this day.
“Our morning with the children and staff of Happy Football Cambodia was indeed a happy one, of smiles, laughter and much excitement, which will long live in our memories and hearts. It was great to witness firsthand the joy that Happy Football is bringing to the lives of so many Cambodian children.”
- Tammy, Ivanhoe Grammar Student
The International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP) has been a wonderful contributor to HFCA since 2011. ISPP supports HFCA as one of its main community projects through fundraising and capacity building activities. The School has worked with students to raise funds for HFCA in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The school works with students and their parents to organise and hold fundraisers for and with HFCA program participants and staff. ISPP students and staff participate in training sessions with HFCA and work with students from local and international school communities in fun and energetic days out that raise awareness of the important causes of homelessness and poverty that HFCA seeks to address.
"The great thing about this event is that the students actually get to mix and speak to each other. This is the first time we have done this and we already thinking of ways in which we could make it more interactive next year. It is important that this is not just about fundraising. Personal relationships between the HFCA students and our students will hopefully raise awareness of the issues amongst ISPP students and allow HFCA students social interactions that they might not normally have"
- Brian Webster, International School Phnom Penh
