Volleyball Foundation
The Foundation uses the global reach and power of volleyball to support projects worldwide that have a positive impact
- FIVB Volleyball Foundation President has expressed his delight with the early success of the Volleyball Foundation in the first few months following its launch
- The Foundation teamed up with the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA) to host a mass participation event that inspired hundreds of children
- Alongside the FIVB, the Foundation also hosted Volleyball Experiences at the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium and South Paris Arena during the Olympic Games, which saw 300,000 fans engage with volleyball and beach volleyball like they never have before
- The Foundation is also supporting two pilot projects— the Brahmaputra Volleyball League and the Githurai Kimbo Volleyball Academy, involving thousands of children
- Dr Ary S. Graça F° has expressed his confidence in the future of the Foundation
FIVB and FIVB Volleyball Foundation President Dr Ary S. Graça F° shares his joy over the impressive early achievements of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation and expresses his hope for its continuation.
Established in May this year, the Volleyball Foundation uses the global reach and power of volleyball to support community projects worldwide that have a positive impact. By identifying pioneering projects from across the globe, the Foundation supports and provides funding and resources to advance certified projects that promote the social well-being of communities through volleyball.
The Volleyball Foundation has hit the ground running, teaming up with the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA) to host a mass participation event that inspired hundreds of children with a unique and immersive volleyball experience.
Held during the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2024 Women Finals in Bangkok, the three-day event saw young players engage in ‘Green Volleyball’ activities, where they played volleyball alongside planting rice seeds, promoting an eco-friendly approach to farming. They also had the opportunity to play and train with legends of the game, namely Feng Kun, Elizaveta Bracht, Nootsara Tomkom, Pleumjit Thinkaow and Amorntep Konhan, and also got to witness an array of VNL action.
Dr Ary S. Graça F°, said he was thrilled with the engagement and enthusiasm that the event in Thailand was met with, and noted that it could serve as a template for future similar activities, alongside the creation of a grassroots volleyball league in the country.
“During the VNL Finals in Bangkok, young players had the opportunity to experience Green Volleyball, train with legends of the game and witness some of the world’s best players. The Foundation will continue to engage in exciting projects such as this one and will also support projects in local communities all over the world, working closely with them to understand their needs and how we can help” he said.
The Volleyball Foundation is also supporting two pilot projects— the Brahmaputra Volleyball League, a grassroots community league in Assam, India, involving over 10,000 children; and the Githurai Kimbo Volleyball Academy, which offers youth in one of Nairobi, Kenya’s most challenging slums a sanctuary through volleyball.
Speaking about the work the Foundation has done with these programmes, the Volleyball Foundation President said: “Our Foundation is committed to leveraging the power of volleyball to drive positive social change – that is what drives us. We have already seen the huge impact that the Volleyball Foundation can have, through our two pilot projects.”
“Both of these fantastic projects started out with a dream to improve the lives of those in their communities through our sport, making volleyball part of every child’s development. It is fantastic that thousands of kids now have the equipment and support to flourish.“
“But these projects go beyond the sport itself. These projects also provide crucial life skills and education to children in some of the poorest communities in the world that otherwise would have not had that learning. Volleyball can do amazing things beyond simply the game, and these projects represent just that!” he added.
The FIVB and Volleyball Foundation also hosted Volleyball Experiences at the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium and South Paris Arena during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The Experiences saw 300,000 fans, both new and returning, enjoy an exclusive taste of the sport with the help of several athlete ambassadors including Olympic medallists and world champions from around the world, as well as French legends of the game. From a full-size professional volleyball court mock-up to a Parisian-inspired beach volleyball festival, complete with sun, sand and much more, the experiences displayed the sport like never before, adding even more excitement as fans watched their favourite stars compete.
President Graça has expressed his confidence in the future of the Volleyball Foundation.
“We want to continue to support groundbreaking projects in local communities around the world that align with the Foundation’s mission, ensuring that as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy our sport. This includes development programmes that have a positive social, economic and/or environmental impact, and introduce volleyball to new communities, especially in less developed areas. We also want to continue to raise awareness about the Foundation’s activities and build upon our strong network of supporters.“
“Our slogan is ‘serve the world through volleyball’ and that will be weaved through everything that we do. The most important thing is the development of communities through our sport – in particular – our youth, and the Foundation aims to do just that” he concluded.
As the Foundation looks to the future, volleyball will no doubt be a powerful force for good.
