Bangkok, Thailand - Ahead of the Reds’ pre-season return to Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on 12 July, children and young people from our Side by Side programme with Liverpool F.C. Foundation were able to learn and play through activities led by Liverpool F.C. Foundation coaches, who travelled from Anfield to take part in a football clinic.

The clinic at Denla British International School, facilitated by our Project Partner in Bangkok, DKSH, was a chance for children to engage with experts from the world-renowned football club and meet Liverpool Legend Sami Hyypia. Some of the young people also had the chance to watch Liverpool F.C’s opening training session on 11 July, to see players in action on the pitch.

Our Side by Side partnership in Thailand is working to help disadvantaged children in Bangkok to develop vital life and leadership skills that will help them learn, lead and succeed. Working Side by Side and with DKSH, a leading market expansion services provider, Right To Play and LFC Foundation have rehabilitated spaces across four different communities in Bangkok to provide safe and accessible areas for young people to play and learn.

Last year, the pandemic continued to have a huge economic impact on communities in Bangkok. Right To Play and LFC Foundation were able to support children during lockdowns with online programming and coaching seminars, and LFC Foundation coaches shared their expertise with community coaches.

Working Side by Side, we reached 3,691 children and community members through weekly regular sport and play activities, including community events. We also worked to improve play spaces in the heart of four communities in Bangkok, to provide safe areas for children to learn and play.

Our programmes in Thailand, which also focus on female empowerment activities for girls and young women, successfully trained community coaches and youth leaders to deliver weekly sports activities for children and adults in four communities. Almost 50 percent of children participating in our programme were girls, and more than 50 percent of youth leaders were female.

Julia Schipper, Head of Office, Right To Play Thailand, said: “Right To Play is a global leader in harnessing sport and play to protect, educate, and empower the world’s most vulnerable children. Working side by side with LFC Foundation, with the support of our Project Partner DKSH, means we have been able to reach more children and young people in vulnerable communities in Bangkok through the pandemic, to ensure they have the skills and support they need to learn, lead, and succeed in life.”

Matt Parish, CEO of Liverpool F.C. Foundation, added: “We're proud to see the positive impact of our project in Thailand and the way LFC Foundation coaches are sharing their expertise with community coaches and helping to support vulnerable children using the power of sport and play. As the world’s greatest football family, we are committed to helping those in need, both at home in Liverpool and away in communities like the ones here in Bangkok.”

Kwanchai Assanee, President and Head Country Management, DKSH Thailand, added: “DKSH is proud to be a part of this meaningful initiative which brought to life our company’s purpose to enrich people’s lives, by supporting vulnerable children and young people with the learning of life skills.”

About Side by Side in Bangkok

The LFC Foundation and Right To Play are working Side by Side, using the power of sport and play to help vulnerable children in Bangkok, so they can learn, lead, and succeed. Two innovators and leaders in the fields of sport and play, we’re working together to bring insights and expertise to create and implement high-impact programmes that protect, educate and empower children and support them to overcome adversity and thrive.

Side by Side programmes in Bangkok are being supported by Project Partner DKSH. DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia and have supported Right To Play’s work in Thailand for over 13 years.