Global volleyball impact in 2025: How LKTBF reached 2,000+ people worldwide
- Anastasia Kinoshita Chrysidou
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Let’s Keep the Ball Flying (LKTBF) delivered structured coaching and play sessions into communities across the world, delivering global volleyball impact in 2025 by directly reaching more than 2,000 people across 77 countries.
After a year of building frameworks, this was the first time delivery overtook planning. Programmes that existed on paper in 2024 were running weekly on the ground in 2025, with consistent attendance, trained local coaches and measurable progression.
2025 global volleyball impact at a glance
Across all impact work in 2025, LKTBF achieved:
Strengthening volleyball access through Circular Gear
Access to equipment remains one of the biggest barriers to participation in grassroots volleyball.
In the Circular Gear programme, donated volleyballs and nets are collected, processed and redistributed to active projects globally.
In 2025:
Equipment shipped to 7 countries across Africa, Europe and Latin America
In total, 239 donated volleyballs processed and distributed
26 nets received and redistributed
Volunteer recruitment underway to strengthen operations.
In September, the programme was paused to fix storage, logistics and tracking issues that would have limited future growth.
Rather than push volume without control, LKTBF chose to strengthen operations first. A revised logistics model and new tracking systems are now in development ahead of a 2026 relaunch.
Expanding volleyball to new communities
The Volley Beyond Borders programme extended beyond Greece in 2025, launching a pilot in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The focus was to explore how volleyball can support asylum seekers and foster connection in unfamiliar environments.
Pilot launched in July 2025
17 regular sessions delivered
18 participants engaged
Key delivery insights captured.
Not all targets were met. Recruitment and retention required stronger local partnerships than initially anticipated. Those lessons are already changing how the programme will grow next.
In Greece, the programme continued to grow:
In total, 630 participants engaged
235 training sessions delivered
13 tournaments hosted
12 coaches certified, with 5 progressing into coaching roles.
Growth in Greece was not just numerical. Local coaches gained confidence and responsibility, strengthening long-term sustainability.
“Volley Beyond Borders creates space for people to connect, learn from each other and feel part of a community. It’s not about background or circumstance, but about shared moments on court and the confidence that grows from them”, says Marloes Lugtenberg, LKTBF volunteer who has supported the programme in Greece and in the Netherlands.
Building a global volleyball coaching community
Through the GURU coaching platform, LKTBF continued developing structured online education for coaches worldwide and driving global volleyball impact in 2025 with:
170 active coaches from 70+ countries
82 online courses completed
New Africa-based content created to reflect local contexts and the realities coaches face on local courts.
“Through the GURU programme, I’ve learned to coach and mentor with more purpose. Being part of a global community shifted my focus from drills alone to developing confident, values-driven athletes”, shared Ashok Sairam, GURU Global Leader India.
Supporting local volleyball teams on the ground
Through the Adopt a Team and in collaboration with LKTBF's partners, the programme expanded structured support for grassroots teams in Tanzania.
Supported teams increased from 4 to 15 in one year
200+ players engaged
20 coaches completed an LKTBF coaching course
Locally produced jerseys delivered to all new teams.
Facility access and reporting gaps exposed weaknesses in local systems. In response, new tracking tools were tested in late 2025 to improve accountability and consistency.
What’s next for LKTBF in 2026
2025 was a year of learning, testing and moving from pilot projects to consistent delivery. With clearer data, stronger systems and proven programmes, LKTBF is ready to scale what works and deepen impact in 2026.
Lesley de Jonge, Executive Director and Founder at LKTBF, said:
“2025 showed that our model works. We’re not testing ideas anymore. We’re delivering consistent programmes, supporting local coaches and building systems that last. Now the focus is scaling responsibly.”
Our projects in action
This work shows how global volleyball development can scale when local coaches, equipment access and structured education are combined. The priority now is simple: reach more communities, support more coaches and make volleyball accessible where it wasn’t before.
