World ParaVolley will support eight grassroots development projects across five continents through its Activation Funding programme, committing €8,000 to initiatives designed to grow and strengthen Sitting Volleyball around the world.
Projects in Cameroon, Benin, The Gambia, Puerto Rico, Chile, Togo, France and Myanmar have each been awarded a €1,000 grant following a competitive application process that attracted 21 applications from 19 countries across five continents.
The level and quality of interest led World ParaVolley to expand the programme beyond the five grants initially planned, allowing eight projects to receive funding.
The successful recipients are:
- Cameroon – Power of Sport Association
- Benin – Judicaël Claver Elyon Gbeto
- The Gambia – Serrekunda East Sports Development Organisation
- Puerto Rico – PUR ParaVolley
- Chile – Club Deporte Adaptado Chile
- Togo – Kuami Samani
- France – ASUL Lyon Volley
- Myanmar – Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation
Together, the projects reflect the global ambition behind World ParaVolley’s Activation programme: supporting practical initiatives at local and national level that can introduce more people to Sitting Volleyball, develop capacity and leave sustainable structures behind.
From ideas to impact
Applications were first assessed against the programme’s qualifying criteria before being scored across six areas.
Particular emphasis was placed on legacy and sustainability, which accounted for 25 per cent of the assessment, followed by strategic alignment with the programme’s objectives and the number of people the project could reach.
Value for money, development need, and the ability to demonstrate and report the project’s impact were also considered.
The eight highest-scoring eligible projects were supported until the available funding was exhausted.
World ParaVolley Development Director Anton Raimondo said the response demonstrated both the appetite for grassroots development and the range of ideas emerging from within the global ParaVolley community.
“Receiving 21 applications from 19 countries across five continents shows just how much enthusiasm there is within our community to grow Sitting Volleyball. What was particularly encouraging was the variety of ideas and the focus applicants placed on creating something that can continue beyond the initial activity.”
“We originally planned to support five projects, but the strength of the applications led us to increase that to eight. These are relatively small grants, but when they are placed in the hands of people who understand their communities and know where they can make a difference, they can become the starting point for something much bigger.”
More than financial support
The Activation programme is designed to provide more than funding alone.
Each successful project will have the option of being paired with a World ParaVolley coach activator – an experienced coach or coach tutor who can provide practical advice and support as the project is planned and delivered.
The initiative will be coordinated through World ParaVolley’s Development Department, with Coaches Commission lead Matt Rogers supporting the connection between projects and coach activators.
The approach builds on World ParaVolley’s wider activation work, which has seen the sport introduced and strengthened through locally focused development initiatives in different parts of the world.
Recent projects have included a major Sitting Volleyball development initiative in Tanzania, where coaches and referees were trained to help create sustainable local capacity, as well as activation work in Colombia focused on using volleyball and ParaVolley to connect, educate and empower communities.
Creating a legacy
A central objective of the funding programme is ensuring that its impact extends beyond a single event or activity.
Successful projects will therefore document their work through photographs, video and reporting, including the number of participants reached and what structures, knowledge or opportunities remain in place afterwards.
That evidence will also help World ParaVolley evaluate the impact of the programme and demonstrate what targeted grassroots investment can achieve, providing valuable insight for potential future funding rounds.
All eight funded projects are scheduled to complete their activities by 15 December 2026.
Over the coming months, World ParaVolley will share their stories from around the world as the projects move from ideas on paper to activity in their communities.
Eight projects, five continents, one goal – growing ParaVolley
🌍 21 applications
🌎 19 countries
🌐 5 continents
🏐 8 projects supported
💶 €8,000 committed
From Cameroon to Chile, Myanmar to Puerto Rico, the first group of Activation Funding recipients represents communities at very different stages of their ParaVolley journeys.
What connects them is the opportunity to create sustainable growth from the grassroots – bringing more people into the sport and strengthening the people, knowledge and structures that can keep it growing.