PLAY HANDBALL hosts the Weltwärts Partner Conference Southern Africa 2025 in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa – March 2025 – From March 17-21, 2025, PLAY HANDBALL proudly hosted the Weltwärts Partner Conference Southern Africa in Cape Town, in collaboration with the German Red Cross in Hesse – Volunta. This significant event was organized on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Programme Steering Committee (PSC).

The conference brought together 55 delegates from seven countries – Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Germany. Participants included representatives from BMZ, Engagement Global, and the PSC, as well as 38 regional participants and seven colleagues from German implementation organizations, including KulturLife, our German partner in the Weltwärts programme. The Weltwärts programme is a key initiative of German development cooperation on interpersonal level, fostering global volunteer exchange.

The event was officially opened with a warm welcome from the German Consul General, Tanja Werheit. This set the stage for a week of insightful discussions, networking, and collaborative learning.

Highlights of the Conference

Networking Sessions: Opportunities to connect by country and organization type
Key Discussions: Cultural exchange, responsibilities, and the role of volunteers
Site Visits: Exploring local implementation organizations in Cape Town
Open Space Format: Addressing common challenges and sharing innovative ideas

Expert facilitators, Sibulele Sibaca Nomnganga and Dr. Jörn Fischer, guided the discussions, ensuring meaningful engagement and impactful takeaways. The conference was a platform to strengthen partnerships, foster collaboration, and promote justice and peace through volunteering and international exchange.

PLAY HANDBALL is honored to have contributed to this vital initiative, reinforcing our commitment to impactful volunteer programs and cross-border cooperation. We look forward to continuing this journey of connection and shared learning.

PLAY HANDBALL and the Weltwärts Programme

PLAY HANDBALL has been a proud partner of the Weltwärts programme since 2015. Over the years, we have hosted more than 40 volunteers in Kenya and South Africa, working closely with local communities to create inclusive sports environments. Our volunteers play a key role in schools and community projects, introducing handball, organizing tournaments, and making sports accessible to children, especially in disadvantaged areas. Since 2023, we have been cooperating with KulturLife in the bilateral Weltwärts programme, further strengthening our international collaboration.

For more information on the volunteering programme:

PLAY HANDBALL: https://play-handball.org/en/volunteer-in-sport-in-africa/
Volunteer with PLAY HANDBALL via COACH ABROAD: https://www.coachabroad.de/project/
Weltwärts with our partner Kultur-Life: https://kultur-life.de/freiwilligendienste/weltwaerts/projekte-in-suedafrika

The Weltwärts Programme

The Weltwärts programme, initiated by the BMZ in 2008, has been a cornerstone of German development cooperation at the interpersonal level. Since its inception, over 40,000 volunteers have been sent to partner countries in the Global South, contributing significantly to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The programme plays a crucial role by fostering education, healthcare, and sustainable economic development through international cooperation and exchange. By enhancing education quality, reducing poverty, and promoting peace and the rule of law, Weltwärts serves as a practical mechanism for achieving global development objectives.

→ For more details, visit weltwärts (https://www.weltwaerts.de/en/)

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