“Sport gives women and girls something very simple but very powerful: A space where they are seen, where they belong and where their potential is taken seriously”  

A conversation with FIVB Volleyball Foundation President HRH Princess Ayah, as the Foundation wraps up a month-long International Women’s Day campaign and looks ahead to an exciting future for women and girls in volleyball 

Throughout March, the FIVB Volleyball Foundation celebrated the power of volleyball to create lasting change for women and girls around the world. As the month closes, the Foundation sat down with its President, HRH Princess Ayah, a champion for greater access, inclusion and leadership opportunities for women across sport and beyond. Here, she reflects on the moments that inspire her, the barriers that still need to be broken and her unwavering belief that women and girls belong on the court, in the gym, in the boardroom and at every table where decisions are made. 

Can you share a memorable moment where you saw the impact of the Foundation’s work on women and girls? 

One moment that stays with me is a site visit to a programme run by Generations For Peace and supported by the FIVB Volleyball Foundation. When the session began, the girls were shy and some could barely hold the ball. At the end, we sat together in a circle passing the ball to one another, and each girl shared something she had taken from the programme. The comment that really impacted me was a girl who simply said she felt seen and that she belonged. To take part in the session and watch that transformation unfold in real time was incredibly powerful.  

In your view, what role can sport play in empowering women and girls today? 

Sport gives women and girls something very simple but very powerful: a space where they are seen, where they belong and where their potential is taken seriously. It builds confidence, discipline and resilience, qualities that carry far beyond the court. When a girl picks up a ball for the first time and realises what her body can do, something shifts. She starts to believe she can do more, be more.  Sport was where I learnt to lead, to fail and to get back up. And I see that same transformation happening for girls all over the world. When we invest in girls’ access to sport, we are not just building athletes, we are building future leaders. 

What makes volleyball, in particular, such a powerful platform for building confidence, inclusion, social development and community values? 

Volleyball is, by its nature, a team sport. Every rally depends on communication, trust and shared effort, and that teaches you something profound about community and collective responsibility. It is also one of the most accessible sports in the world. You do not need expensive equipment or a purpose-built facility, just a net, even a laundry line, a ball and an open space is enough to bring people together. That accessibility is what makes volleyball such a powerful vehicle for inclusion. And because it is played equally by men and women at the highest level, it sends a natural message about equality. Girls see women competing at the Olympics, leading Federations, coaching national teams and that visibility matters enormously. 

You have long advocated for increasing the visibility and influence of women in sport. Why is representation so important, both on the court and in leadership? 

Because you cannot be what you cannot see. When a young girl looks at the people making decisions in sport and she sees women there, it tells her that space is for her too. Not just as a player, but as a leader. Representation on the court inspires participation. Representation in leadership inspires ambition. For the first time, the International Olympic Committee is led by a woman, and more women than ever are stepping into governance roles across sport. But there is still work to do. When women are in the room where decisions are made, the outcomes and the programmes are more inclusive, and the organisations better reflect the communities they serve. Being the first Jordanian elected to the FIVB Board of Administration was meaningful not just for me, but because it opened a door and showed others from the region that these positions are within reach. 

How is the FIVB Volleyball Foundation helping to turn those values into action through the projects it supports around the world? 

The Foundation exists to make volleyball a genuine force for social good, and we do that by supporting grassroots projects that use volleyball as an entry point for wider development. Our work spans community programmes, education initiatives, coach development and direct support for participation, particularly among women and girls, and in communities where access to sport is limited. The Foundation invests in programmes that use the sport to build life skills, create safe spaces, support education and empower communities. Every project we support is designed to leave a lasting impact, not just on individuals, but on the systems around them. We want local communities to own these programmes and to carry them forward long after our initial involvement. 

Across the Foundation’s work, what are some of the barriers that still prevent women and girls from accessing, participating in, and staying involved in sport? 

The barriers are varied and often deeply rooted. In many parts of the world, cultural and social norms still discourage girls from playing sport, particularly beyond childhood. Families may not see the value, or there may be practical obstacles: a lack of safe facilities, no female coaches, no transport, or simply no permission. 

Economic barriers are significant too. When resources are limited, sport is often seen as a luxury rather than a right, and girls are usually the first to lose out. Then there is a retention challenge and keeping them involved through adolescence is incredibly difficult. They face competing pressures, academic expectations, early marriage in some regions, caregiving responsibilities, or simply a lack of pathways that show them where sport can take them. This is why the Foundation’s work is so important. We are working to keep the doors open and to build pathways that sustain involvement over the long term. 

Why is it important that the projects supported by the Foundation go beyond volleyball itself, and also create space for education, mentorship and personal development? 

Because sport alone is not enough. Volleyball can open a door, but what matters is what a  person finds on the other side. If we are serious about lasting impact, we have to think holistically. A girl who joins a volleyball programme, and who also gains access to mentorship, literacy support or leadership training is far more likely to stay in sport and to thrive beyond it. 

The programmes we support understand this and it is how we create sustainable change. Sport gives young people a sense of belonging and purpose but coupling it with personal development gives them the tools to turn that energy and experience into something that lasts. 

When these opportunities are created for women and girls, what kind of impact can that have not only for individuals, but for families and communities as well? 

The ripple effect is extraordinary. When a girl is empowered through sport, her confidence grows, her health improves, her social network expands and her aspirations rise. Families see the difference, in her discipline, self-belief, ability to communicate and lead. In many communities, she becomes a role model for her siblings, peers and neighbours. 

There is strong evidence that investing in girls and women creates a multiplier effect across entire communities. Girls who are active in sport are more likely to stay in education and more likely to pursue employment or leadership roles. When you empower one girl, you set in motion a chain of change that can transform a much wider group. 

How can sport and the projects look to positively impact women, particularly by opening up pathways into wider roles within the volleyball environment? 

This is an area I feel strongly about. We need to be intentional about building pathways, not just for players, but for coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists, event organisers and every role that makes the sport function. Too often, women’s involvement in sport ends when their playing career does. We lose enormous talent and experience because the off-court pathways simply are not there or are not visible enough. 

The Foundation is actively working to change that. Through our programmes, we are investing in coach identification and development for female coaches, supporting female leaders in volleyball governance and creating mentorship pipelines that connect emerging talent with experienced professionals. The goal is to build an ecosystem where women are represented at every level, not as the exception, but as the norm. 

As the Foundation continues to grow, what kind of impact do you hope it can have for women and girls around the world? 

I hope it continues to be a genuine catalyst for change, and that we reach a point where every girl, regardless of where she is born, has the opportunity to experience volleyball, to benefit from it, and to lead within it.  

In the years ahead, I want us to deepen our reach, strengthen our partnerships and build models that others can replicate. I want us to be known not just for what we fund, but for the quality and sustainability of the impact we create. And I want us to ensure that women and girls are not an afterthought in sport development, but at the centre of it. 

What message would you most like to share with the next generation of girls coming into volleyball or sport more generally? 

You belong here. You belong on the court, in the gym, in the boardroom, at the table where decisions are made. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Sport will teach you how to lose with grace and win with humility. It will show you what you are capable of when you push beyond what feels comfortable. It will give you life long friendships, resilience and a sense of who you are. And whatever happens in your sporting journey, whether you play at the highest level or simply find joy in the game, carry those lessons with you. They will serve you in every part of your life. The world needs your energy, your voice and your leadership. So, step onto the court, and do not look back.