Volunteer Janneke from Holland spent a month helping teach underprivileged children in Siem Reap the joys of sport at our Cambodia Sports Project, but before she even set off for Cambodia she was busily raising money to support the project and help it to continue and expand its important work.
Janneke raised a quite superb $1,000 for the project and here she explains why, and how, she went about it: of 2016.
“I've been playing hockey for more than 25 years. As a child I had the chance to enjoy the fun of playing Sports and being part of a team. My wish is that every child in this world has the chance to enjoy playing sports. Supporting the Sports Project is just a small step in achieving this but it is a great start!
“I actually did three different things to raise the money. Firstly, I am part of a running group named Lopersgroep Ulestraten. Everyone is very sports-minded so when I told my running mates that I was going to volunteer with a sports project in Cambodia they immediately wanted to do something to support this. It did not need much convincing to persuade them to donate money to sponsor kits for one of the teams in the soccer league. In the end they raised enough to sponsor two teams.
“Then my employer - APG, in the Dutch city of Heerlen - did an article in our employee magazine about my volunteering plans. In addition to that I sent an e-mail to my colleagues explaining the Sports Project and the financial support they need. Everyone was really excited and once again it didn't take much convincing to collect the money.
“Finally, my family and friends were really enthusiastic about my volunteering plans. This was around Christmas time. They decided not to send Christmas cards in 2013 but donate the money they saved with this to the Sports project.”
In total Janneke’s fundraising efforts mean that seven children’s soccer teams in the Globalteer Junior Soccer League will now have brand new strips to play in, something which will help boost their confidence, their self-esteem and make them really feel part of a team. A huge thank you to Janneke, her friends, family, colleagues and all her supporters. The kids and staff of the sports project are eternally grateful for your support.