Beyond the Net is a humanitarian, educational and sports-based initiative that uses volleyball to improve children’s lives and strengthen communities in Ethiopia’s Hadiya Region. Relaunched with support from the Volleyball Foundation, the project builds on earlier success by integrating volleyball into local school programmes and helping young people develop confidence, teamwork and essential life skills. At its heart is a simple conviction: that sport can be a powerful vehicle for education, empowerment and community development.

The project reaches more than 3,000 children by training teachers and coaches, establishing school volleyball programmes and improving access to safe places to play. Its impact extends beyond the court: solar-powered streetlights installed around schools and courts create safer public spaces for children and families, while cultural exchange programmes connect young people across countries.