Empowering Volleyball Communities: The Gear Up Rise Up Toolkit Project
Volleyball is more than just a game; it’s a powerful tool for community building, personal development, and fostering joy. The Gear Up Rise Up (GURU) Toolkit project, spearheaded by Let’s Keep the Ball Flying, embodies this spirit by providing essential resources and knowledge to grassroots volleyball communities worldwide.
Our journey to the Philippines marked a significant milestone in this mission, bringing together experts, volunteers, and local communities to produce the GURU toolkit and create lasting impact.
Goals of the Gear Up Rise Up Toolkit Project:
The primary goals of the GURU Toolkit project are:
Accessibility: To make volleyball knowledge and resources accessible to remote and underprivileged communities.
Sustainability: To teach communities how to build and maintain volleyball equipment using locally available materials.
Empowerment: To empower local coaches and players with innovative training techniques and organisational skills.
Community Building: To foster a sense of community and joy through the shared love of volleyball.
Achievements in the Philippines:
Our team of 15 international experts and ambassadors embarked on a week-long journey across six communities in the Ifugao region of the Philippines. Here are some of the key achievements:
Coaching Sessions: Led by our GURU Head Coach, John Kessel, we conducted multiple coaching sessions with local children and coaches. These sessions focused on basic skills, innovative training methods, and fun games to play, ensuring participants had a comprehensive understanding of how to start volleyball successfully in rural volleyball areas.
Equipment Creation: We demonstrated how to create volleyball equipment using natural materials like bamboo, rocks, and dried coconuts. This not only provided immediate resources but also taught sustainable practices that can be replicated and maintained by the communities.
Community Engagement: Through fun and engaging activities, we brought joy to hundreds of participants. The excitement and enthusiasm were palpable, with smiles and laughter echoing through the courts.
Partnerships: Collaborating with local organisations like the Spike & Serve Foundation, we ensured that the project was well-coordinated and effectively implemented. Their support and local knowledge were invaluable to our success.
Drone Technology: Using drone technology, we captured unique footage of training sessions and tournaments. This visual perspective not only enhanced our training materials but also provided local coaches with new insights into training strategies and tournament rotations.
Filming Educational Content: A key aspect of this project was filming all the necessary educational content to create the GURU toolkit. This content includes detailed chapters on principles for success, building and organizing practices, playing and improving skills, and community engagement.
Impact on the Local Communities:
The GURU Toolkit project has left a lasting impact on the communities we visited:
Increased Participation: The introduction of new equipment and engaging training methods has significantly increased participation in volleyball activities.
Empowered Coaches: Local coaches now have the tools and knowledge to train their teams more effectively, fostering a higher level of play and enthusiasm.
Sustainable Practices: By learning how to create and maintain their own equipment, communities can sustain their volleyball programs without relying on external resources.
Community Spirit: The shared experience of playing and learning volleyball has strengthened community bonds and created a sense of unity and pride.
Looking Ahead:
This journey in the Philippines is just the beginning. Over the next few months, the LKTBF team will be focusing on post-production to finalise the toolkit. Once complete, the toolkit will be available to communities worldwide, free of charge.
Over the next few years, we aim to expand the GURU Toolkit to more countries, continually upgrading and refining our materials based on best practices and feedback. By partnering with larger organisations, we hope to reach even more communities and spread the love of volleyball worldwide.
Conclusion:
The Gear Up Rise Up Toolkit project in the Philippines has been a remarkable journey of empowerment, innovation, and community building. We are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made and look forward to continuing this mission globally. Thank you to all our volunteers, partners, and supporters for making this possible. Together, we can keep the ball flying!
