PMs of Australia and Vietnam promote the power of sport to change girls’ lives

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arriving at the event

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese at the event

As part of the Australian women’s under-20 football team’s community outreach programme, the team ran a coaching clinic with Vietnamese players during their visit to Vietnam for the 2024 Asian Cup qualifiers.

At the event, the two PMs highlighted the important role of sport to empower girls and young women and unlock their potential. The prime ministers also celebrated the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2023 in which both countries are competing.

Meeting with the players, the two prime ministers learned about their experience as female footballers and the challenges they face to achieve their dreams in the sport

The participants at the occasion were young Vietnamese women from HANU FC Women and Hanoi U-17 Female Football Team, which partner with UNICEF to promote the power of sport to change children’s lives.

Meeting with the players, the two prime ministers learned about their experience as female footballers and the challenges they face to achieve their dreams in the sport. National team jerseys were gifted to the PMs at the event.

Players from the Vietnamese Women’s National team also attended the event to say farewell before leaving for Germany for training in advance of the Women’s World Cup.

Empowered. United. Unstoppable.

Joining the prime ministers at the event, Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski said, “Sport is a big part of Australia and Vietnam’s culture. We are pleased to promote women’s sport and demonstrate the power it has to change lives and promote gender equality. We look forward to the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starting next month.”

Women and girls are already changing the face of football

Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers said, “Women and girls are already changing the face of football, and football is changing their lives. Sport has the power to unlock girls’ potential and make them unstoppable.”

“They have broken a glass ceiling in sport, showing that girls can do it. They work to achieve their dreams and encourage millions of girls around the world. Girls are unstoppable,” she added.

Australia, UNICEF, and UNIS Hanoi are promoting the power of sport as a game-changer for women and children

In the lead up to the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in 46 days, Australia, UNICEF, and UNIS Hanoi are promoting the power of sport as a game-changer for women and children. Girls and women have traditionally faced gender barriers when playing sport and dreaming of growing as professional football players.

Sport can empower girls by strengthening their confidence and self-esteem. They build skills that are essential for every child’s future, such as strategic thinking, teamwork, leadership, confidence, discipline, and learning to bounce back from defeat. It also promotes the value of inclusion, respect for self and others, and fairness and cooperation, all while helping improve all aspects of health and performance in school.

UNICEF Vietnam and Australia are partners in delivering programmes for children and youth, with a focus on gender equality, including ending violence against women and children.

International experience in sport for development drives has inspired Football Without Limits, an initiative that was launched last year with the Ministry of Education and Training and the National School Sports Association.

Prime Minister meets Vietnamese women’s football team Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 10 met members of the Vietnamese national women’s football team who returned home earlier the same day after earning a berth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time and finishing fifth at the recently-concluded 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

Vietnam, Australia promote trade, tourism exchange A Vietnam-Australia trade and tourism promotion conference was held by Vietnam Airlines, Thien Minh Group and Vinpearl JSC in Sydney on April 19, drawing a large number of Australian businesses and travel firms from different Australian localities.

United Nations International School of Hanoi celebrates 35th United Nations Day Vietnamese and international community members gathered at the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi), one of only two United Nations schools in the world, to commemorate the school’s 35 years of Learning to Inspire on November 11.