Dream Asia Foundation Approved Disaster Recovery Projects
The board authorized funding for four new social initiatives following devastating natural disasters in the Asia region.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Asia
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The Dream Asia Foundation Board of Trustees met in Nagoya, Japan, to approve four disaster recovery and social responsibility initiatives. These projects focus on restoring critical infrastructure and supporting vulnerable communities in Myanmar and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Why it matters
These programs provide essential funding and infrastructure support to regions struggling to recover from severe weather events and seismic activity. By leveraging football club prize money, the foundation ensures that sports-related assets are rebuilt to serve local populations.
The foundation utilizes a mandatory 5% social responsibility allocation from AFC club prize funds to finance these efforts. The initiatives are projected to be completed between February 2027 and November 2027.
The players
HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal
He serves as the chairperson of the Dream Asia Foundation Board of Trustees.
Dream Asia Foundation
This organization manages social responsibility and disaster recovery initiatives through sports.
Kawasaki Frontale
This professional football club is contributing prize money to the Blue Dream Programme.
Sharjah Football Club
This club is directing its prize funds toward the Football for Hope Programme.
The details
The board authorized recovery efforts for the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Training Center following damage from Typhoon Sinlaku and repairs for the Mandalay Football Academy after a 2025 earthquake. Additionally, funds were allocated to the Blue Dream Programme and the Football for Hope Programme to provide clinics and support services.
Timeline
March 28, 2025: An earthquake damaged the Mandalay Football Academy in Myanmar.
April 14, 2026: Typhoon Sinlaku caused damage to the Northern Mariana Islands Soccer Training Center.
September 20, 2026: The foundation board officially approved funding for the recovery projects.
November 2026 - February 2027: The Football for Hope programme will operate in the UAE.
February 2027: Completion is expected for the Northern Mariana Islands restoration project.
Travel Outlook
This move follows the pattern set by the AFC Champions League Elite social responsibility prize fund allocation policy. By formalizing these contributions, the foundation ensures that tourism-heavy regions and local sports facilities receive consistent rebuilding support after regional climate-related disasters.
Travelers visiting Myanmar or the Northern Mariana Islands should anticipate ongoing construction at local football facilities through late 2027. These projects aim to normalize local sports infrastructure, which may influence the availability of public training venues for visiting youth teams.
The takeaway
The foundation's model demonstrates how professional sports entities can directly fund infrastructure repairs in disaster-affected zones. Travelers and local residents should expect updated training facilities in these specific regions as these restoration timelines reach completion.
What happens next
The Northern Mariana Islands restoration project is scheduled for completion in February 2027, followed by the Mandalay Football Academy recovery project in November 2027.
Further reading
For more information on regional development projects, see the Asia section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Inside World Football.
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