By Chris McAsey

An AFL Asia Development Grant is helping kids from underprivileged families in Bangkok kick goals both on and off the field.

The Communities United by Sport (CUBS) program run by the Thailand Tigers recently celebrated the first group of kids to graduate from secondary school and complete the program.

The CUBS program provides funding for kids from the Khlong Toei community for schooling, footy equipment and training with the Tigers’ men’s and women’s squads.

Thailand Tigers President Jake McIntosh said the CUBS program aims to provide opportunities for children through education and sport in partnership with local community organisation Duang Prateep.

‘These opportunities start with supporting secondary school education, but are increasingly expanding to tertiary education, vocational programs and employment,’ Jake said.

‘Many original members of the CUBS program are choosing to continue to play Aussie rules which is validation that the community aspect of the program is by far the most important.’

Along with the first four CUBS graduates, another 18 boys and 18 girls are still participating in the program, with the next batch of scholarship recipients just about ready to join.

‘The majority of the Under 18 boys have developed to a point where they are regularly part of our open domestic football matches each weekend,’ Jake said.

‘Asia Cup was a also massive boost for engagement and several CUBS members will feature in our men’s and women’s sides at the Asian Championships in August.’

The CUBS program is back in full swing from 16 April to prepare for the annual Anzac Day fixture between the Thailand Tigers and Thailand Serpents in men’s and women’s divisions.

Kicking it forward

Jake said the next iteration of the CUBS program is to train Thai graduates to facilitate the program in local schools.

‘This is a work in progress but we hope to start this academic year,’ he said.

‘Some International Schools have Aussie Rules programs run by the Thailand Tigers, but the language barrier in local schools means we need Thai nationals to lead those programs.’

Duang Prateep works with families and individuals in the Klong Toei community and selects the children for the CUBS program. The program has also previously received funding from AustCham Thailand and Austhai Geophysical.