Running Club

We were once told, “Girls in Cambodia don’t run.” At Women Are Gold, we are dedicated to empowering women and girls to pursue their dreams. We believe that "girls/can’t/don’t" should never be part of the same sentence. So instead of accepting the idea that "girls in Cambodia don’t run," we decided to uncover just how well girls in Cambodia CAN run.

As we expected, girls in Cambodia CAN run impressively well, and they are indeed fantastic runners. To support this, we established a running club that empowers girls to set goals, push their limits, and recognize their true potential.

Every year, a group of beneficiaries, along with Women Are Gold volunteers and staff, participates in the International Women’s Day 10K Race in Phnom Penh. In preparation for the race, our staff and volunteers train with these girls to ensure they are ready for race day. On the day of the event, Women Are Gold takes the runners to Phnom Penh, a city that most of our beneficiaries have never visited before. Not only do these girls successfully complete the 10K race—achieving a goal they worked hard to reach—but they also gain exposure to new opportunities and experiences beyond their towns and villages. This entire experience encourages the girls to dream big and understand that with hard work, anything is achievable. So yes, girls in Cambodia CAN run!