FEI Solidarity Grant helps fuel equine careers for women in Cambodia

The Cambodian Equestrian Federation (CEF) is set to launch a pioneering vocational training programme at the beginning of March, aimed at boosting the participation of young women in Cambodia's growing equestrian sector.

Created with the support of a Gender Equality Grant from FEI Solidarity, the primary objective of the programme is to provide comprehensive support and mentorship to women aged 15 to 20, guiding them towards establishing sustainable careers as grooms in stables or riding centres. The programme will offer basic training as well as specialised courses to equip participants with advanced skills in horse care and facility maintenance.

The training programme – which will take place at the Genius Resort, the new CEF training centre situated in Phnom Penh – has been officially endorsed by FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos, and FEI Vice President and Group VIII Chair Jack Huang, who recently visited the training facilities and met with the ten participants.

“We are honoured to be the recipients of this Gender Equality Grant and the financial support from FEI Solidarity will go a long way to improving the know-how required for equestrian activities to grow and thrive in our country, while giving these young women the opportunity to make significant economic contributions to society,” CEF Secretary General and architect of the training programme H.R.H. Nanda-Dévi Norodom said.

“In Cambodia, the equine sector has a shortage of skilled and qualified professionals which makes it impossible to address the increasing demand and needs of the different stakeholders in the equestrian sector.

“While this programme blends practical and theoretical learning, participants will also be taught basic English vocabulary relating to horses, grooming, and riding. Our aim is to ensure that these young women leave the programme well-prepared for the workforce and can avail of any and all opportunities for employment.

“An added bonus of the programme is that grooming provides a direct contact with the horse and helps to develop personal confidence, responsibility and autonomy. So, we’re also helping these young women develop the necessary soft skills they require to succeed in their chosen field of work.”

In a report produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) entitled “The Gender Wage Gap in Cambodia”, it was noted that while the country has made progress on closing the nation’s gender gap in recent years, deeply rooted gender inequalities and gender roles remain evident. The report found that women fall behind their male counterparts especially with regards to economic empowerment and higher education.

The UNDP also found that women are more likely to invest earnings and time into their families and communities, and that their continued education is a huge asset because of the knowledge and skill set women can share while participating in social and domestic engagements.

Through the CEF vocational training programme, a total of 20 women, who will be trained in groups of 10 students, have been chosen to take part in the training programme. Once they have graduated, the apprentices will be accompanied by the CEF in their job search.

Explaining the FEI Solidarity Committee’s decision to support the project, Ingmar De Vos said, “We received a large number of applications for the Gender Equality Grant in 2023, and this vocational training programme in Cambodia stood out for its potential to create a culture of good practice that benefits the horse, as well as to change the economic situations of these young women over the long term.

“We are pleased to see that the Cambodian Equestrian Federation has not taken a short-term view, but has implemented a project that goes to the heart of community change and which plays a crucial role in making these young women self-sufficient so that sustainable change can be brought to their lives, and those of their family members.”

The project has also received broad support from local, national and international organisations, with participants selected from the People Improvement Organization (PIO) in Cambodia, which is a network member of the FEI’s Official Charity Partner JustWorld International. Notably, the project has garnered enthusiastic backing from Cambodia's Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, a passionate advocate for women's empowerment.

“Solidarity projects such as this vocational training programme in Cambodia goes beyond just financial support. It also requires community members and leaders to work hand-in-hand to realise a shared vision,” Jack Huang explained.

“The vision here is that women matter, and that women can and do play an important role in equestrian activities and can contribute positively to the social and economic fabric of Cambodian society. And if equestrian sport can play its part in changing strongly held views on gender equality and redefining societal norms, then sport can really live up to the ideal that it has the power to change the world.”