The Cambodian girls are pictured with the US Olympic athletes.
The lives of two Cambodian
girls, rescued from the human trafficking trade, have been turned around
thanks to Cupar-based football business AMsportstours.
While undertaking a sports tour of the north west
area of Cambodia, managing director Austin MacPhee, who also runs
AMsoccer, came across the SALT charity which rescues children from a
life of abuse, gives them safe accommodation, and helps get their lives
back on track through sports and leadership training.
Explaining
the link up Austin said: “AMSports now assists with providing
scholarships for girls, running football tours to Cambodia with all
profits going to SALT, and also introducing donors to the charity.
“Women’s
football was never accepted in Cambodia until SALT drove it forward and
my contact there Sam Schweingruber is now the national team coach with
all players coming from the charity.”
Two of the girls involved, Srey Poe and Nipha, now have bright futures thanks to SALT and AMSports.
Austin
went on: “One month ago Srey Poe and Nipha took an eight hour bus trip
over the Cambodia/Thai border to Bangkok before flying out of south east
Asia for the first time.
“Their destination was Cupar and since they arrived the girls have enjoyed an action-packed time.
“They
have taken part in coaching sessions with AMsoccer, assisted coaches,
learned English, and were recently guests at the Olympic football in
Glasgow where they met the USA gold-medal winning team.”
Austin said both he and Sam Schweingruber hope that this trip will be the first of many for children being helped by SALT.
“We
are now working to create a pathway to employment for their girls when
their time with the charity ends. We hope to create jobs through sports
tours to Cambodia or sporting and academic scholarships in the USA.”
Austin
said he was particularly grateful to North East Fife MSP Roderick
Campbell who helped the girls get visas to leave Cambodia.
Mr Campbell said: “I am delighted that Austin was able to provide these Cambodian girls with this wonderful opportunity.
“I
know that he worked very hard on this project, and that it took a lot
of time, patience and effort to see it through to the end.
“As a
member of the proposed Cross-Party Group on Human Trafficking in the
Parliament, I was naturally interested in Austin’s proposal, considering
the work that SALT Academy does in Cambodia.
“I was happy to
support Austin’s proposal, and I sincerely hope that the girls who came
to Scotland enjoyed their visit and will take a lot out of their
experiences here.”
For more information on SALT visit the website www.saltacademy.net
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