Bangkok--14 Mar--Media Plus Connection
FOOTBALL AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TO CONNECT GIRLS AND INSPIRE FUTURES ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8 MARCH2012 - Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School (Bangkok Prep), Sukhumvit Soi 53, Thursday 8 March 2012, 07.45-10.00am
Recently, UNESCO collaborated with students from Bangkok Prep and Duang Prateep Foundation, using sport and physical education to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March 2012). This interactive youth event had highlighted the role that sport can play in connecting girls and inspiring a future, which was the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Mr. Abdul Hakeem, UNESCO’s Regional Education Advisor and Coordinator of Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All said: “School physical education programmes provide young people with the opportunities to develop values, knowledge and skills they need to lead physically active lives, build self-esteem, and promote and facilitate physical activity in the lives of others.”
Started off with a friendly mixed football match “Only Girls Can Score”. The game consisted of Bangkok Prep student teamed up with equal numbers of boy and girl players. Only girls
could score goals, so teams could only win by valuing and supporting their female team members. The session promoted gender equality on the sports field and beyond by valuing female participation in sports. It emboldened girls to be active in sports and reinforced behaviors of both boys and girls which support female participation.
“Sport not only improves female physical and mental health and offers opportunities for social interaction and friendship, it can also cause positive shifts in gender norms that afford girls and women greater safety and control over their lives” said Right To Play Thailand Country Manager Michael Albert, who conducts the session.
Students from Bangkok Prep all had fun and enjoyed full benefit from the "Only Girls Can Score" football game. And not only this event provided fun for the students who participated in it, but these young generations also got a chance to open their new point of view and valued the equality between women and men more than ever.
Ms. Myrtha Verboom, Year 7 student of Bangkok Prep said, “I feel good because it gives girls chance to be part of the game as much as the boys. It helps with my self-esteem especially when I can score.”
Ms. Prow, Year 7 student of Bangkok Prep said, “To win or lose, it is okay, just to enjoy the sports, that’s the heart of the game. I personally don’t think that sport is exclusively for men or women, it’s for everybody.”
Michael Matthayomchan, Year 7 student of Bangkok Prep said, “When boys play with boys, it is more fun because you can play hard without worrying that you will hurt anyone. However, when boys play with girls, you have to be more considerate. I think it’s good to interact with others in this game (Only Girls Can Score), more like… you learn how to share and to have fun rather than
expecting to win or thinking too much of making goals.”
The game followed by a speech of a female winner of silver medal in bouldering at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games to inspire girls’ participation in sports. Ms.Watchareewan ‘Ploy’ Tomas, Year 10 student of Bangkok Prep, talked about her success in rock climbing.
“As a young woman, I’m proud of who I am and what I can and have achieved. Today is international women’s day and I dedicate my medal to girls and young women all over the world and wish them every success in their chosen field,” said Ms.Watchareewan.
Bangkok Prep headmaster Keith B. Wecker said: “I am very proud of Ploy’s achievement and ability to balance her school life with the passion and commitment to the sport that she loves.”
UNESCO Bangkok’s Deputy Director, Mr. Etienne Clement also presented a new gender advocacy brief ‘Empowering Girls and Women through Physical Education and Sport’, and explained why we should all be concerned about gender, girls and physical education. This advocacy brief-publication is now launched online at http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=9823&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=6434
“It’s great to be here with 2 different schools in Bangkok (Bangkok Prep & Duang Prateep) celebrating IWD together. I can feel such great enthusiasm and energy from the girl players from Bangkok Prep and very impressed by that. In Thailand, there’s good gender equality unlike some other countries where boys and girls can’t play sports together. Girls not allowed to participating in sports activity as the way boys do. We’d like to see all boys and girls have the same right, not only on IWD but for everyday of life,” Mr. Etienne said.
The ending activities of kindergarten school children from Duang Prateep Foundation and Bangkok PrepYear 12 students was the elder brothers and sisters learned how to guide and coach the younger ones in a 30-minute session of play-based activities. This final session was encouraging participation in healthy physical activity for the younger children, and developing leadership skills for the older ones.
UNESCO Bangkok was able to undertake this event thanks to the generous partnership and support with Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School, Right To Play, Thailand and Duang Prateep Foundation.
For more details contact:
Ms. Fuchsia Hepworth (
[email protected] ) or phone +66 2391 0577 Ext 369; +66 80 610 0010 / Ms. Rojana Manowalailao(
[email protected]) or phone: +66 2 391 0577 Ext 347; +66 81 825 21
Links
- Duang Prateep Foundation: http://en.dpf.or.th/
- Right To Play Thailand:http://www.righttoplay.com/international/our-impact/Pages/Countries/Thailand.aspx
- Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School: http://www.bkkprep.ac.th/index2.php
- UNESCO Bangkok Gender Equality in Education Webpage:
http://www.unescobkk.org/education/gender/
- Gender Advocacy Brief: EmpoweringGirls and Women through Physical Education and Sport: http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=9823&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=6434
About Bangkok Prep
Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School (“Bangkok Prep”) is a private co-educational school in the heart of Bangkok. As the recipient of The Prime Minister’s Export Award 2009 as ‘Best Service Provider in International Education’ and the award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in School Development and Management’ at the World Education/Education Living Expo 2010, developments are now well in place to make Bangkok Prep the best mid-sized international school in Thailand.
Bangkok Prep is a member of the Council of International Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, International Schools Association of Thailand, Thailand International Schools Activities Conference, as well as the Cambridge University-approved IGCSE and A-level examination center.
The campus, situated adjacent to the Thong Lo BTS Sky Train station, is perhaps the most conveniently located international school in Bangkok. The school offers state-of-the-art facilities comprising a new indoor sports complex with dance and drama studios, an elevated indoor jogging track, and a regulation-size multipurpose indoor sports hall, along with a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool.
In addition, there are primary and secondary libraries, computer rooms, several playgrounds, a multipurpose artificial grass sports field and an Outdoor Early Years Learning Centre. A new Theatre, music practice rooms, specialist Drama, Art and Design Technologies suits and science laboratories have also recently been completed.
For further information, please contact:
Jirapha Rachasuthee / Vassana Meemongkon
PR Representative of Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School - Media Plus Connection Co.,Ltd
Tel: 02-619-1108 l M: 080-268-8228 / 081-926-6169 l
E-mail:
[email protected] /
[email protected]