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US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State joins historic women-only program to save lives using the power of soccer

First-ever Women’s Mine Risk Education Workshop organized this week by international non-profit Spirit of Soccer.

In a week that made history, Spirit of Soccer, the international NGO that uses soccer to empower and educate young people about the dangers of mines in places that have experienced either past or current conflict brought together 40 female coaches from four countries across South East Asia. These coaches have been trained in how to use soccer to help stop children from being killed and maimed by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) across the region.

The first event of its kind in the world, the five-day program included education, empowerment and soccer training and culminated in a soccer and Mine Risk Education (MRE) festival for 200 local Lao girls, led by the female coaches and attended by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Samuel Perez.

“Women are half the talent on the planet. Thus it is not only important, but also fitting that we enable women to develop creative ways to educate children of the dangers and risks of mines and unexploded ordnance,” said Dep. Ass. Sec. Perez, of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which supports Spirit of Soccer’s unique program in Laos, Cambodia, Jordan and Iraq. “The success of this workshop highlights soccer as an additional tool to teach children how to stay safe and have fun at the same time. We appreciate the partnership with Spirit of Soccer and are pleased to be a teammate in this important endeavor.”

Traveling from Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia and across Laos, the women – ranging in age from 18 to 40 – took part in an intensive schedule of education workshops on risks, behaviors and historic information about mines and UXO; on-field sessions that enabled the messages to be learned in engaging ways; and tours to mine/UXO clearance sites and government entities responsible for clearance and surveying.

Most of the women are teachers, soccer coaches, and instructors for local NGOs who are working with children that are at daily risk from the millions of unexploded bombs and landmines that litter South East Asia. Because of the huge popularity of soccer in the region, it is a powerful way to attract children and communicate vital safety messages.

Asked why she attended the workshop, Vietnamese delegate Sanh HsTh Ha said: “So that we can pass on our experiences to children and girls in our own countries.”

Laos’ Xieng Khouang Province, where the workshop took place, is one of the most heavily contaminated provinces in the country. Laos has one of the most extensive UXO problems, having been the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world during the Indochina War.

“’Educate a man, you educate a man. Educate a woman and you educate a generation’ – This quote has always really struck home to me,” Spirit of Soccer Founder Scotty Lee said. “We need to provide more opportunities for women to be empowered and educated to make the world a safer and more peaceful place. It’s an honor to work with such inspirational women this week and I look forward to visiting each of their countries through this coming year to learn what skills and knowledge they have passed onto their children and communities.”

This groundbreaking project has been made possible by the PMWRA – US Department of State.

Partners which have made the Spirit of Soccer work in this region possible include: Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, FIFA Football For Hope, and the Asian Football Development Project.

Additional supporters and contributors for this workshop include Football United, Football for All Vietnam, Lao Football Federation and the Lao Government.

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