a growing sport
In 2015, the Lao Rugby Federation launched the ChildFund Rugby and life skills curriculum in partnership with ChildFund Australia, World Rugby, Asia Rugby and Women Win. Since then, over 100 teams and 3,000 young people have registered with the LRF’s Champa Ban “Little Blossoms” youth rugby program, and the success of Champa Ban powered by ChildFund Rugby has drawn international acclaim as an evidenced-based model providing young people in Laos the health and social benefits of organised sport.
Building Leaders
The ChildFund Rugby and life skills curriculum integrates rugby and life skills training to provide lessons in a number of areas, including:
Teamwork
Peer pressure
Understanding gender
Relationships and violence
Children's rights
Career planning
Taking action in your community
Following the success of ChildFund Rugby activities in Laos, the curriculum is now being used to provide young people from disadvantaged communities in Asia the opportunity to take part in organized sport - often for the first time.
...Tomorrow's Champions
Though the main focus of Champa Ban powered by ChildFund Rugby is to teach young people about rugby and offer health and social benefits through organised sport, the program has become a pathway for players to represent Laos on an international stage.
In 2017, 80% of the DAC U17 Lao National Teams fielded in Asia Rugby competitions came through the LRF’s Champa Ban powered by ChildFund Rugby youth rugby programme.
Today’s Leaders…
Players participating in Champa Ban powered by ChildFund Rugby learn the skills they need to become leaders in their communities. For some players, rugby practice serves as an opportunity to continue their education and learn skills, like first aid, that are rare in their community.